Aqua Tequilas Restaurant Burns Down, Memories of the Old Gasperetti’s Still Haunt

Yakima Mexican Restaurant on N 1st St Burns, Lot Now Demolished

Yakima residents are still in shock that Aqua Tequila's Mexican restaurant has burned down. The lot is now full of rubble and sad memories of the building's historical past.

The building was deemed a total loss by firefighters and has since been demolished, leaving behind a sole telephone pole and remnants of what looks like a chimney.

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Aqua Tequilas Mexican Restaurant in downtown Yakima caught ablaze on Monday, January 19, 2026.

Local resident, Bobby Mendoza Jr., captured the photo above of the restaurant before it was demolished.

Cherished Memories of the Old Gasperetti's Italian Restaurant Remain

What is now left at the1013 N 1st St location in downtown Yakima right before you hit the I-82 entrance ramp, used to be the home of family-owned Gasperetti's Italian Restaurant, a beloved fixture in the Yakima restaurant scene since the mid-1960s. I still miss the champagne cocktails and delicious fried calamari appetizer from Gasperetti's G-Spot Bar!)

On the restaurant's Facebook page, the owners shared a solemn message to their customers, stating, "We are so heartbroken. As a small family business we are devastated by the news. It was always my parents dream to own and operate a restaurant with family and to share our family recipes to our beloved Yakima community."

Read More: Where to Find the Most Authentic Mexican Food in Yakima

Local Yakima-based photographer & videographer, Sky's Shutter, was able to capture a stunning video of the blaze, which has since been ruled out as arson according to some sources with knowledge of the subject.

Our hearts go out to the owners of Aqua Tequilas and the cherished memories the building leaves behind.