One restaurant closes, some more to open

Other businesses change hands

Arestaurant iconic in Yuma closed its doors on Monday. Employees of Hunter Steakhouse, 2355 S. 4th Ave., were called that afternoon and told to pick up their final checks on Thursday.

According to General Manager Mario Hernandez, the owner died and the restaurant has been up for sale. There are a couple of interested buyers, but a sale hasn’t been finalized. I hope the deal works out for completely selfish reasons. The Hunter steak is one of the best I’ve ever tasted.

In 2010, Louise Tricker, late owner of the property, decided to reopen the Hunter herself after the previous operator closed its doors. Tricker and her husband, Mike, lived in San Diego, where their company, Agro International Inc., operates another Hunter Steakhouse and Pinnacle Peak steakhouses.

Tricker passed away in September after battling pancreatic cancer. Our condolences to the family. *** While one restaurant closes, another one will be opening soon. The sign outside the former Dudley’s, 11375 S. Foothills Blvd., now says “Jimmie K’s Open Soon Year Round.”

According to information posted on Foothills Next Door, Jimmie Kay Lewis-Fugate, who previously owned the Bottoms Up Pub, purchased the restaurant. She’s going to serve American and Mexican food and will hopefully open by the end of August.

Lora Bailey and her family had opened Dudley’s in January, after the Copper Miner Restaurant closed. But due to a family situation, the restaurant closed in April and the family hoped someone would take it over.

“We would really like to sell or lease it to someone local that is looking for a second location for an existing business or someone looking for the opportunity to start their own business,” a family member said at that time.

I’m glad someone grabbed the opportunity! *** And there’s more news on still another restaurant. The owners of Duron’s El Zarape Grill, 1905 W. 8th St., announced that the family will be opening a new location. Duron’s Restaurante Y Cantina will open at the Yuma Airport Inn, 711 E. 32nd St.

“Coming Soon Everybody,” the Durons posted online. “We are super excited!”

I recently reported that Andrew Sab, owner of the Howard Johnson Inn at