Danbury Rallies Behind Family-Run Restaurant Damaged In Fire

DANBURY, CT — A family‑owned restaurant on Liberty Street sustained damage in a fire just before 4 a.m. on Aug. 31, evoking a wave of community support through a GoFundMe appeal.

The blaze broke out in the ceiling and roof area of the kitchen at a three‑story brick building located at 51 Liberty Street, which houses the Brazas Market and Churrasqueira on the ground floor and apartments above. Danbury firefighters, led by Deputy Chief Jaime Schiller, used two hose lines to extinguish the fire within minutes, evacuating around 12 residents in the process.

Danbury Mayor Roberto Alves wrote in a post on Facebook that the restaurant has temporarily closed due to the “devastating fire.”

“This is their livelihood and they need us now more than ever,” Alves wrote.

In the wake of the incident, Leah Wildman, sister-in-law of the restaurant's owner, organized a GoFundMe campaign. She described the restaurant, forced to close temporarily due to the damage, as a “blood, sweat, and tears” project of the owners. The fundraiser emphasized that the restaurant is the family’s primary source of income and encouraged community members to donate whatever they can to help the business reopen.

"This family has always shown up for us, through their food, their kindness, and their generosity," Alves wrote in the post on Facebook. "Danbury always steps up and now it’s our turn to show up for them."

As of noon Thursday, the campaign had raised $7,456 across 90 donations for the business owners.

No injuries were reported during the fire, and all residents were able to return to their apartments soon afterward. The cause of the blaze remains under investigation by the fire marshal, with support from police, EMS, and other municipal departments.