New London ― After a seven-month wait, fans of Muddy Waters Cafe on Bank Street began trickling into the Bank Street coffee shop several minutes before its official 7 a.m. opening time on Wednesday.

And for owner David Preka, that friendly impatience was worth the time and effort it took to refurbish ― and then re-re-furbish after a smoky fire ― the eatery into the bright, roasty-smelling space that greeted customers on its grand reopening morning.

“There were a lot of pieces of the puzzle, so many factors to get us here,” Preka said in front of a pastry window showcasing Danish, pistachio muffins and crumb cakes.

Preka, who bought the cafe from former owners Susan Devlin and Barry Neistat in 2020, completed major restoration work ― plumbing, electrical, flooring ― at the cafe eight months before an Aug. 17, 2023, fire broke out in the basement.

Fire officials determined the fire, which led to smoke and water damage, was an accident sparked by an overheated extension cord running power from an outlet to basement refrigerators.

“We needed to re-do just about everything after that,” Preka said. “But just getting the first refrigerator in here took 22 weeks.”

Charlie Duffy, one of the morning’s first arrivals, picked up right where he left off in August, placing his usual order of a cinnamon swirl pastry and dark flat coffee.

Duffy said while he noticed several changes to the cafe, including new tables and chairs, lighter wallpaper and brighter floors, he appreciated that the movie posters, nautical-themed prints and knick-knacks that previously graced walls and nooks were reinstalled, albeit in different locations.

“Everyone just naturally seems to come here, including governors,” Duffy said, noting the cafe served as a must-do whistle-stop for local and state politicians stumping for office over the years. “And it helps the train station is right nearby.”

As part of the post-fire repair work, Preka completely overhauled the kitchen and basement areas, replacing damaged appliances and adding new components, including a grill hood that will allow cooks to serve hamburgers and French fries during the lunch rush.

After being greeted with a hearty “Welcome back!” by a staffer, Bill Hathaway ordered an extra-large black Sumatra coffee and settled behind a front area table that faced a Rock-Ola juke box, rows of flavored syrup bottles and a bank of coffee machines.

“I’ve been coming here since the early 2000s,” the New London resident said. “I’d been going to the Washington Street (Coffee House) while this place was closed. I’ll probably still jump around between the two places ― it's different vibes, a little more laid back on Washington ― but I won’t go to a Dunkin’.”

Emily Ramsey, a Meriden teacher who lives not far from the coffee shop, recalled the regular breakfast dates she and her fiancé enjoyed at the cafe before the fire. On Wednesday, she grabbed her go-to order: an iced cinnamon bun latte.

“I also like their jalapeno bacon,” Ramsey said. “I told myself I’d stop here this morning if there wasn’t a line out the door. But if I’m late to work, it’s worth it.”

j.penney@theday.com