After Roof Fire Destroys Brick Pizzeria, Neighboring Pizzeria Rallies To Help Owner, Staff

BRICK, NJ — Anthony Carannante says he can imagine what was going through the mind of Alfredo Martinez as Cuzzin's Pizzeria burned on Saturday.

"When you eat, breathe and sleep your business, to watch it go up in flames when you've put in so much hard work is just awful," said Carannante, who owns Papa V's Pizzeria just a short distance from Cuzzin's on Herbertsville Road.

The fire at Cuzzin's Pizzeria remains under investigation, according to the Herbertsville Fire Company, which said the fire was reported about 5 p.m.

Brick Township police officers who responded told the fire company there were smoke and flames coming from the roof, so the call was upgraded to a second alarm, and then to a third alarm when firefighters arrived and saw the intensity of the fire, the Herbertsville Fire Company said in a post on the department's Facebook page.

It took about two hours for firefighters to bring the fire under control, the Herbertsville Fire Company said. Firefighters remained on the scene for approximately 4 hours, the post said. Jay's Food Mart, next door to Cuzzin's, also sustained significant damage. A dry cleaning business in the small plaza had shut down in December 2022.

Carannante has started a GoFundMe campaign to assist Martinez and his staff. (See it here.)

"Our hearts go out to Alfredo and the staff. We set up a GoFundMe to help everyone there with bills and expenses," Carannante said in a post on the Papa V's Facebook page. "I ask the community to offer whatever you can, if you can. We greatly appreciate any and all efforts."

Carannante said he has been operating Papa V's, at 334 Herbertsville Road, for 15 years. Martinez has been operating Cuzzin's at 358 Herbertsville Road for almost as long, and while there have been changes in the area, "the Herbertsville section is still a very close-knit area," he said.

"It’s not a very glamorous lifestyle to work in a restaurant," he said. "To see the look on Alfredo's face and that of his staff ... I put myself in his shoes."

Carannante said helping Martinez and his staff is about the community taking care of its members.

"This is someone's family and someone who has to pay their bills," he said.

In addition to the Herbertsville Fire Company, the following fire companies and agencies responded as well:

Laurelton Fire Company, Pioneer Hose Company, and Breton Woods Fire Company in Brick;
Point Pleasant Fire Department; Point Pleasant Beach Fire Company; Ocean Fire Company No. 1 of Point Pleasant Beach; Ramtown Fire Company, Squankum Fire Company, and Southard Fire Department No. 1 of Howell; South Wall Fire Rescue; Silverton Volunteer Fire Company and Pleasant Plains Volunteer Fire Department of Toms River; Brick Township EMS; Point Boro EMS; Point Pleasant First Aid & Emergency Squad; Beachwood Emergency Medical Services; Jackson Township EMS; the Brick Township Police Department, Lakewood Police Department and the Ocean County Sheriff's Office.

Brick Township's Fire Department and Fire Safety Bureau responded as well.

Those who wish to donate to the GoFundMe campaign can do so here.