Repairs underway at beloved Puyallup restaurant 2 years after devastating crash
AI-generated summary reviewed by our newsroom.
- City permits show Don’s Drive-In repairs progressing after 2023 crash closure.
- Planning and engineering reviews in June 2025 suggest possible reopening soon.
- Crash injured three staff; community fundraiser raised over $35,000 for recovery.
A Puyallup burger joint that has been closed for almost two years looks like it might be working to reopen its doors.
According to the City of Puyallup’s permitting portal, repairs are underway for Don’s Drive-In at 925 S. Meridian.
The restaurant – which has been closed since a car smashed into one of its walls on Nov. 28, 2023 – has filed permits that indicate a possible reopening on the horizon.
In the description of the work, the portal page says: “Repair and replacement of new wall and kitchen appliances for Don’s Drive-In Restaurant; All appliances and fixtures will be reinstalled or replaced due to damage from a car accident.”
In June 2025, city records show the restaurant also completed:
- Planning Review
- Fire Review
- Building Review
- Engineering Review
- Engineering Traffic Review
The News Tribune was not able to reach the restaurant’s owner, Yong Kim, to ask about a reopening date and how much more work needs to be done.
Don’s Drive-In shut down when a 64-year-old Bonney Lake man crashed into the restaurant. The man was charged with three counts of vehicular assault while driving under the influence and is still awaiting trial, according to Pierce County Superior Court records.
The News Tribune reported at the time that the impact pushed a deep fryer three or four feet back into a 48-year-old fry cook, Jiho Yoon, who was severely burned by the hot oil.
The restaurant owner and another employee were also burned, The News Tribune reported, but not as severely as Yoon.
One of Yoon’s coworkers started a GoFundMe that raised $35,728 to help with Yoon’s lost income, medical expenses and living expenses. The latest update on the GoFundme indicates that Yoon has been steadily healing.
“It’s hard to believe that a year has already passed. My skin still has a long road to recovery, and I continue to experience pain and itching when I move,” Yoon wrote on the GoFundMe page on Dec. 4, 2024. “However, with all of your support and prayers, I’ve been able to persevere. I am deeply grateful to everyone who has helped and prayed for me. Thank you so much.”
The News Tribune archives contributed to this report.
This story was originally published September 22, 2025 at 2:09 PM.
