The owner of Petrillo’s says he will rebuild the popular Freeport restaurant after it was heavily damaged by fire on Thursday night.
Dominic Petrillo, owner of Petrillo’s Italian restaurant in Freeport, says he plans to rebuild after a fire heavily damaged the building. Derek Davis/Staff Photographer
Dom Petrillo said it “looks like a bomb” went off in the second floor and attic of the Depot Street building, but the first floor is relatively untouched. Firefighters had to tear open the roof and chase the fire through narrow eaves to fully extinguish the blaze.
The fire may have started in a ceiling fan and light unit in a second floor bathroom, Petrillo said. The State Fire Marshal’s Office is investigating the fire.
No one was injured by the fire, which broke out shortly after the last employees left for the night. All of the restaurant’s kitchen equipment and refrigeration units were destroyed.
The restaurant was fully insured and Petrillo is working with the insurance company to determine if his coverage includes wage replacement for his 12 employees.
Petrillo hopes to reopen the restaurant before its 17th anniversary next February. Since the fire, he has been overwhelmed by support from first responders, Freeport business owners and people in the community who have offered to help in any way possible.
“It’s been a tough time, but it feels good knowing people are out there pulling for us,” Petrillo said Saturday.
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