How it Happened
Villa Vittoria, the Italian restaurant that has been a fixture on the corner of Cedar Bridge and Old Hooper avenues for decades, was destroyed by a fire on Monday afternoon.
Firefighters were called to the restaurant after 3:30 p.m., according to witnesses, and the call quickly escalated to a three-alarm fire. Smoke was seen billowing from the roof in videos shared with the Brick Patch, and according to scanner traffic, firefighters had to open multiple holes in the roof of the restaurant to battle the flames.
Patrons and employees safely evacuated from the restaurant, according to scanner reports. The fire was reduced to putting out hot spots by about 5:30 p.m., according to scanner reports.
Old Hooper Avenue was closed in both directions at Cedar Bridge while the fire was being fought, leaving residents of nearby Cedar Bridge Manor with limited access to their neighborhood.
Reactions
The fire was big and noticeable. It somewhat caused stress in the neighborhood. "No one is allowed in or out of our neighborhood," reader Erin Geist said.
But obviously it is a loved and popular restaurant in Brick. A number of readers expressed sadness at the loss.
"Hope it comes back," reader Bill Strong wrote. "Nice to have a place that is not part of a chain in this town."
"Oh no!!! That's awful. I love that place," Deborah A. Walton wrote.
Several readers commented that they had held special events at the restaurant over the years, from christenings to bridal showers. It was something of a cult and bellowed restaurant in Brick.
Your Thoughts?
Have you ever visited the restaurant? Do you feel like the fire department could have reacted faster and saved the place from the serious damaged it survived? Or the reaction was appropriate and with the holes in the roof they show that they basically saved the restaurant from further or total damage? Let us know in the comments below.
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