Fire damages seaside restaurant in Long Branch for second time in three years
LONG BRANCH − Investigators are looking into the cause of a fire that broke out mid-morning on Saturday at Charley's Ocean Bar & Grill and will force the restaurant's owner to rebuild from a blaze for the second time in three years.
The fire started about 11 a.m. shortly after the restaurant opened and appeared to damage the outside of the building.
"It was supposed to be a good weekend," Charley's owner Mario Magriplis said. "We had some parties and events booked that unfortunately now I have to reach out and contact them and figure it out."
Firefighters from Long Branch, Asbury Park, Deal and Sea Bright responded. There were no reported injuries.
Charley's on Avenel Boulevard has about 30 employees during the off-season and 50 during the summer. The restaurant has been a neighborhood staple since 1985, serving New American cuisine.
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Employees who were getting ready to start their day instead stood outside in the marine layer. They watched firefighters douse the back of the restaurant with water and peered through the exterior wall to make sure the fire was out.
"They went through a hard time like everybody else during COVID," said Rose Ann Dillon, 55, of Long Branch, a regular customer who was looking on. "It's sad. It's sad they have to shut down again and get everyone back on track. It really is a wonderful restaurant. Everyone gets along. They're friends. They're just great people."
Magriplis and his family, who also own Blue Swan Diner in Ocean Township, bought Charley's about five years ago.
It hasn't been an easy road. The business was damaged by a fire in the roof less than three years ago, forcing Charley's to shut down for a month while it was repaired.
Magriplis wasn't sure about the extent of the damage from Saturday's fire, but he was hopeful most of it was contained to the outside of the building.
"It's been a stretch of bad luck, but we're going to figure it out," he said. "We're going to get up and running as soon as possible again."
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Michael L. Diamond is a business reporter who has been writing about the New Jersey economy and health care industry for more than 20 years. He can be reached at mdiamond@gannettnj.com.
This article originally appeared on Asbury Park Press: Charley's Ocean Bar & Grill in Long Branch NJ damaged by fire again
