A palace of Chinese food delight has returned to the city.

Excited customers packed into the China Palace restaurant at 140 W. Jefferson St. on Wednesday, a new beginning and fresh start for the returning downtown restaurant.

“We haven't stopped to eat or drink, so needless to say our Grand Reopening was hugely successful,” said Deanna Van Wyck, a manager for the restaurant.

The two-story building was devastated by a fire in January 2018, leaving the restaurant and more than two dozen people living in apartments displaced.

Van Wyck said the owners, Hai Chen and Tong Weng Chen, were extremely happy to have customers enjoying food once again, and they appreciate the support from the community.

“We love our customers and are so thankful for their unwavering support,” Van Wyck said.

Clay Bachman of Butler waited in a seat by the kitchen for his takeout order of General Tso's chicken to come out.

“They're busy today because everybody is all excited about it,” Bachman said.

He said he was having family over for dinner. “We used to come here all the time,” Bachman said.

He said you couldn't tell there was a fire there from the look of the place in that moment.

The restaurant's walls are cream-colored with one accent wall, featuring a textured wood facade.

“It definitely looks different,” Bachman said. “It looks really nice though.”

Meade Echard and her granddaughter, Aubrey Shuler, of Butler sat down to share a plate of General Tso's chicken.

“It was just like before,” Echard said.

Echard said the restaurant was one of her favorites in town, and she missed not having it there.

She said she felt bad for those who lost their homes.

“They had a lot of food for a small price,” Aubrey said. “We got so much, we shared it.”

Aubrey remembers when the building caught fire. From across the street, she watched firefighters battle the blaze.

“I watched it. I sat right over there,” she said, pointing toward a parking lot across the street.

Echard said she's happy the restaurant has returned, and she hopes people continue to support it.

“I think it's great,” she said. “I didn't expect it.”

Tom Bogacki, building manager for Alpine Apartments, which owns the building, said he was excited to hear about a busy first day back for the restaurant.

“Customers are extremely excited,” Bogacki said. “Everybody is so happy to see them back open.”

Bogacki said finishing the restaurant during the last few months was the first step in returning to normal.

“We're now focusing on the apartments,” he said.

Bogacki said he's hoping the apartments will be open in about four to six weeks, but it could be longer.

He said all 14 apartments will be brand new and upgraded from the previous ones.

Bogacki said finishing the apartments would bring the building back full circle.

“There'll be a big load off our mind,” Bogacki said. “We'll finally feel like we made it through that disaster.”