Then, over the weekend, an amazing thing happened, Wilson announced on the steakhouse's Facebook page that he did indeed intend to reopen the restaurant, and teased hopefuls, with a planning for a May to June opening.
The fire, which was caused by malfunctioning equipment, happened when Wilson was alone in the restaurant. He said at the time he was lucky to be alive and that the restaurant was closed at the time.
A dog who lived in an apartment above the restaurant perished, and a firefighter was injured.
The rubble left from the devastating fire led Wilson to think he would never reopen. But, recently, he took a new look at the building and decided there was something to build upon, said the Poughkeepsie Journal.
But this time, Wilson plans on offering Italian specialties, something the restaurant was known for in addition to its hand-cut steaks. The new name? Joseph's Italian Steakhouse.
Wilson also hopes to add a lot of outdoor seating and rehire as many of his former employees as possible, the Journal said.
To keep up with the latest news and to find out the opening day, follow the restaurant's Facebook page.
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