Business & Tech

Ferraro Family Pledges to Rebuild; Cause of Fire Unknown

Many gather to look at landmark restaurant gutted by fire.

Throughout the day Thursday, Elm Street was packed with pedestrians, staring at severe damages caused by that engulfed in the predawn hours.

Many talked amongst themselves, sharing memories of the landmark Italian restaurant, while expressing hope that the Ferraro family would rebuild. At the same time, many speculated on the cause of the fire, a thought at the forefront of the fire investigators at the scene all day.

The fire remains under investigation according to Mayor Andy Skibitsky, who was briefed by Fire Chief Dan Kelly and Deputy Fire Chief David Kelly during a late afternoon meeting. The presence of arson investigators from the state Division of Fire Safety and the Union County fire services unit, along with crime scene unit investigators from the county sheriff’s office is being described as protocol, due to the size of the fire, along amount of property damage.

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Lina Ferraro, one of the owners of the restaurant, said the family will be reviewing tapes from the video cameras scattered around the sprawling restaurant, which dominates the corner of Elm and Quimby.

“We’ll be looking at videos to see what caused it,” she said. “Hopefully it will be there.”

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Ferraro said she and her entire family arrived at the scene after being notified of the fire, which broke out after midnight.

“The whole thing was gone in 20 minutes, we watched the whole thing happen,” she said.  “In 20 minutes the flames were out of control. It was just gone.”

Downtown Westfield Corporation Director Sherry Cronin said the last employees had left Ferraro’s around 11:45 p.m. on Wednesday night, a mere 15 minutes before flames erupted near the doorway adjacent to the pizza ovens on Elm Street. Staff at an insurance office on the second floor of the building, near occupied apartments had left the building around 11:40 p.m. on Wednesday, not seeing any smoke.

Ferraro said her family is in shock at the fire and loss of the cornerstone of the family’s restaurant empire, which includes on South Elmer Street, Primavera in Stirling and Brick 67 in Summit. Ferraro’s started as a small family owned pizzeria on Elm Street in 1969, to include multiple dining rooms, a lounge and private party space. The most recent renovation to the store occurred several years ago and the façade was repainted only days ago, according to Cronin.

“We’re devastated, we’re thankful that nobody got hurt,” Ferraro said. “Everything can be replaced. It will be better than it’s ever been. We will completely redo it. We’re very thankful that no one got hurt. Everyone in the community has been so amazing to us. The phone calls and everybody reaching out to us. I cannot begin to thank everybody.”

Ferraro said she and other members of her family have been fielding phone calls all day on Thursday from residents who have been making a variety of offers to help, including working to clean up the mess left by the fire. She said several of the callers were crying on the phone, comparing the fire to a death in the family.

Ferraro’s has developed a loyal following among residents of Westfield and many neighboring towns. Posts on Facebook and Twitter about the fire came across the social networking sites all day on Thursday, with many expressing shock. Many of those who came to the fire scene on Thursday said they came down to confirm that the fire was real.

Cronin said many in the downtown business community have been in a state shock over the fire, remembering the family’s work in the Westfield community and knowing this could have happened at another location.

“It’s a terrible day for downtown Westfield,” she said. “They have brought so many people to downtown Westfield. I am sure the community will support them as they rebuild and regroup.”

Cronin cited the Ferraro family’s work in the community. She shared a memory of the 2008 Pizza Race, when rain soaked many of the participants and Ferraro’s invited them in and provided them with free pizza and a place to warm up.

“Certainly the community will support them,” she said. “At every fundraiser, every PTA, it was always Ferraro’s that had a presence.”

Ferraro said her family has begun to formulate plans on what to do. She said the delivery and take-out business will be moved to Ferraro’s South, while parties booked are being moved to Ferraro’s South, Brick 67 and Primavera. She said the family is already planning to rebuild at the Elm Street location.

“We will be redoing the restaurant,” she said.

Ferraro said her family is looking to move their staff to their other locations during the rebuilding and would be interested in talking to other restaurants about them temporarily working there. Cronin said she has talked to several local restaurants who have expressed interest in hiring Ferraro’s employees.

Patch contacted several downtown restaurants on Thursday afternoon who expressed interest in hiring Ferraro’s staff to fill vacant positions. A manager with Acquaviva delle Fonte said the restaurant has three openings and that they would be interested in talking with Ferraro’s staff with experience. He said interested applicants should speak with Bekim, Mety or Stuart and mention their work at Ferraro’s.

A staffer at Jeffrey’s said the Central Avenue bistro is looking to fill two server positions and a manager at Boulevard Bistro said they are looking to fill a bus girl position.

Skibitsky, who is a fixture at Ferraro’s outdoor dining area during summer time jazz concerts, said he has had a chance to talk to the Ferraro family and is confident that they will be continue to be a presence downtown.

“Ferraro’s is a Westfield tradition,” he said. “They are so grateful that no one was seriously injured. They are overwhelmed by the show of support.”

Cronin stressed that after the work the Ferraro family has given to the community, she sees this as a way for the community to say thanks.

“They have helped everybody and it’s our turn to help them,” she said.

Editor's Note: Liz Mitchell and Alan Neuhauser contributed to this report.


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