A popular Rancho Mirage convenience store and deli known for its gourmet sandwiches and specialty snacks has reopened more than a year after it was heavily damaged by a fire.

Duke’s Mini Mart, near the intersection of Highway 111 and Frank Sinatra Drive, reopened on Sept. 22, some 380 days after the fire.

“A lot of our customers came in and there were tears in their eyes because this is their neighborhood deli," co-owner Gary Wood said. "It’s just very emotional and we’re happy to be back.”

The reopening has made for a joyful end to a difficult stretch for the business owners. It began one morning in September 2024, when Wood was in the store’s office and smelled smoke. Initially, he and the other employees could not tell where the smoke was coming from or if there was really a fire, bu

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