Nov. 9, 2015 By Christian Murray
A fire broke out inside a Queens Blvd restaurant Monday that had only just opened three days ago.
The fire took place inside the kitchen at Zio Luigi, an Italian restaurant located at 42-15 Queens Blvd, that had only opened on Saturday. There were no injuries, although the kitchen was badly damaged.
The fire was called in at about 7:00 pm and it took the FDNY about 30 minutes to put it out.
Luis Bermejo, the owner of the restaurant, said the wood behind the sheet metal in the kitchen caught fire as a result of the heat.
A disappointed Bermejo said that it took him much longer than expected to open the restaurant and it is likely to take a few weeks before he reopens.
“I spent six months on getting open and now this,” he said in a soft tone. “I have a family to take care of it.”
He said that he will be talking with his insurance company tomorrow.
Zio Luigi is Bermejo’s first restaurant. Prior to opening, he had worked at Italian restaurants in Manhattan for 14 years.
His restaurant focuses on offering fresh pastas and “new world Italian” cuisine.
The restaurant is located next door to PJ Horgan’s which had a kitchen fire in April and has since closed for good. PJ Horgan’s was located in a building owned by John Ciafone, who plans to develop it.
Bermejo has a different landlord and has a 15-year lease.
Bermejo said that just before the fire broke out a woman had just finished dinner. “She told me how much she liked it, especially the dessert. Then this happens.”
Luis Bermejo in kitchen
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13 Comments
i guess we’ll go on together with suspicious minds
This is a straight PR stunt! Bring sunny aside back to the people viva la revolution!
I suspect foul play.
What a disappointment. My wife and I had dinner there on opening night and the food was very good. We were looking forward to going back and trying other dishes on the menu. Guess we’ll just have to wait.
My family and I will be there to support Bermjo when he reopens. I encourage everyone to do so as well. Let’s give this guy a “It’s a Wonderful Life” moment upon the restaurants return and make him the richest man in Sunnyside!
Ditto! Bermjo”s is a kind & generous man who deserves our support.
this really stinks. i didn’t even know the place was open yet. poor guy, i hope his insurance takes care of it. i know the places have different landlords but it does seem VERY strange that two fires would happen right next to each other like that. fires are really not that common, even in restaurant kitchens. perhaps there is something wrong with the gas hookups or piping on this block?
GRAND OPENING! GRAND CLOSING!!
I didn’t know this place had opened already. Good luck to the owner, and a speedy return to business!
It’s a different landlord… Jesus Christ shut up!!
This happened right next to PJ Horgan’s which also had a fire recently.
Heck of a coincidence.
PJ’s has a suspicious fire and then this restaurant has a suspicious fire. I hope they question the landlord who’s trying to sell the block.
its a different landlord!!