A fire tore through the first floor of a pub that has been a longtime staple of downtown Ridgewood, authorities said.We had eaten there some years back, and it wasn't a big hit with the Lawhawks, but others found it to be a nice place to kick back, have a steak, and watch the game. (HT: Mrs. Lawhawk)
Firefighters arrived at Smith Brothers Dining Saloon – a popular watering hole on North Broad Street – around 9:40 a.m. to heavy smoke, said Fire Chief James Bombace. The blaze was extinguished within minutes and confined to the first floor, he said.
It caused extensive damage, however.
“The first floor dining area has been pretty well destroyed,” Bombace said.
The cause of the fire, which apparently began in the kitchen, is under investigation.
More than two hours after the fire was first reported, dozens of emergency services workers from more than a half-dozen area departments remained at the scene.
There's no word on when it may reopen, but on the flip side, Sushi Sakura Bana has been open for the past several weeks. The main sign outside isn't up yet, but the refurbished and expanded space is again filled to capacity with folks looking for a bit of the tasty fresh fish that made it so popular and well regarded among foodies.
UPDATE:
I walked past Smith Brothers this afternoon and the smell of smoke still hung in the air. One of the windows was replaced with a piece of plywood and the other was completely opaque due to soot. Some tables and chairs lined the side of the building, and the building was red tagged as not being suitable for habitation.
It's a shame, as the restaurant was a focal point along Broad Street across from the train station and did nice business in the warm weather with outside tables.
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