WARDEN - Daniel Rodelo's grill is full of hamburger patties as he works through the lunch rush at Pamela's Pantry.

Rodelo re-opened the downtown Warden business and is now buying it from the brother of the late owner, Pam Imbert.

"I got a chance to re-open it, so that's what I did," Rodelo commented.

He offers breakfast burritos, a sausage, egg and cheese muffin, and a variety of hamburgers.

He describes Warden as a different community, because it is hard to tell when people get up and start moving.

"When they do, everyone is in a hurry," he said. "But it's pretty good."

Rodelo describes the business as "a little hamburger joint where you take out." He plans to add customer seating at some point.

"So far, things are going pretty good," he said. "People are liking my burgers."

Bacon lovers might want to consider trying Pamela's Pantry.

With bacon burgers, he wraps the burgers in the fried meat, instead of placing a bacon slice on the patty.

"That way, you get a piece of bacon every time you bite," he said.

One hamburger, dubbed "the farm boy," has been popular, he says. It features lettuce, tomato, cheese, onion, bacon and ham.

Rodelo said he's been looking for an opportunity where he could cook.

He used to fix irrigation circles.

"I finally got a chance to do this," he said.

Rodelo likes his new gig, as he gets to visit with customers and cook.

At one time, he cooked at a soul food restaurant in Las Vegas. He doesn't plan to offer soul food in Warden.

He wants to keep his menu small because he's the only worker there.

He plans to offer delivery for customers in the summer, with the help of his 15-year-old son.

"If the truckers call in, he can run the orders out to them," Rodelo said.

Susie Barr, president of the Warden Development Council, said the council is thrilled someone re-opened Pamela's Pantry.

"Pam was a dear friend of ours and it was so personally hers," Barr said of the business. "For a while, it languished."

Now cars and people are in front of the business.

She said it adds to the vibrancy of downtown Warden.

Warden Mayor Tony Massa said he was glad to see the business back open.

"We all miss Pam and I understand the menu is going to be kind of the same," he commented. "They had some real good burgers."

He said he knows the town's kids enjoy going there for lunch.

Massa mentioned the town's new Canola plant and hardware store. With the new businesses, he hopes it continues to be exciting times for Warden.

Pamela's Pantry is open six days a week and closed on Sundays. Its hours are 6:30 a.m. to 7 or 8 p.m.

For more information, call 509-349-9921.