By Madeline Bates
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On an October night in 2024, the Gebran family was having dinner, grieving the loss of their father Oscar who had opened the breakfast restaurant in 1986. Then, phones started ringing one by one. The longtime family diner’s first location was gone, engulfed in flames and smoke from a malfunctioning water heater.

After months of insurance investigations and disputes the Gebran family began rebuilding the original restaurant they spent decades perfecting. On Feb. 18 it celebrated the reopening to the public to share the same food and service that customers know and love.

“Anyone can build a building, anyone can create a menu, but it’s creating that vibe of magic and family, that’s why we’re here,” said George Gebran, COO of U.S. Egg. 

Family is one of the biggest values for the Gebran family and over the years they have welcomed more customers to join their family for pancakes and company.

Regulars Darline and Bob Grainger went to a U.S. Egg after moving to Tempe over 13 years ago. They found the location after they were driving by and have been coming at least three times a week since then.

“We enjoy the camaraderie that we have with all of the people that we visit with, the servers the owners, and everyone, and to top it off, the food is great,” Darline said.

Bob Grainger worked for the Douglas Fire and Police departments for 26 years and said he admires the work the Tempe firefighters did to put out the flames.

“For the amount of fire they had in the kitchen and they were still able to save the building, I think they did an amazing job,” he said.

Tempe Fire arrived to the scene after a call from a passerby saying they saw smoke. Several responders were able to celebrate the reopening today.

“It looked like a catastrophic construction site,” Tempe Fire Deputy Chief Doug Myers said.

He and others responded to the call. What was left was a foundation of what used to be a restaurant.

“First, we dealt with the grief, then we had to pivot fast and start our staff at different locations and begin the process of reopening,” Carmine Manfredi, regional manager U.S. Egg, said.

After 15 months of employees who had relocated and almost $2 million in updates, the Tempe U.S. Egg was rebuilt.

The restaurant started over 40 years ago when Ilhan and Oscar Gebran bought the first location after living across the street with their daughter and four boys. Now, the four look forward to continuing the legacy and traditions with their own families.

U.S. Egg celebrates 40 years of ownership from the Gebran family this year with specialty plates, drinks and other menu items to the six locations spanning Chandler, North Phoenix, Moon Valley and two in Scottsdale.

Guests can visit the newly rebuilt location at 131 E. Baseline Road.

To voice your opinion on this story, connect with us at AzOpinions@iniusa.org.

Madeline Bates
Reporter | Tempe/East Phoenix

mbates@iniusa.org

Meet Madeline

Madeline Bates joined Independent Newsmedia in 2025 as a Phoenix/Tempe reporter. Before graduating college, she spent a semester in Washington as a Congressional reporter in the first 100 days of the second Trump administration. But local news is where her heart is. She is excited to be in Phoenix full time and exploring new parts of the city (as long as they have AC).  

Community: After living in East Phoenix for two years, she fell in love with Paradise Valley, Mesa, Tempe, and everywhere in between. She recently discovered the beauty of the South Mountain Reserve and hopes to continue exploring should the weather comply.

Education: Madeline has a degree in Journalism and Mass Communications from Arizona State University’s Walter Cronkite School of Journalism and a certificate in Political History and Leadership.

Random Fact: She is a self-taught nail tech. No, she cannot do your nails.

Hobbies: Hiking (when its not 100 degrees), fiction writing, cooking, baking and trying new coffee shops.