Essex County Restaurant Robbed at Gunpoint

Cars Restaurant, a popular eatery on 150 Valley Road in Montclair, was robbed at gunpoint shortly after 2 a.m. on Dec. 10, Police say.

Police are describing the armed robber as a 40-year-old, 6’2 black male, who was wearing dark pants and a ski mask that covered his face.

Police received notification that a panic alarm at the restaurant had been triggered. Shortly thereafter, an employee from Cars Restaurant dialed 911 to report that they had just been the victims of a robbery at gunpoint.

“The suspect walked into the store wearing the ski mask and demanded that the employee open the register,” Montclair Police Lt. David O’Dowd reported. “The employee replied that they were unable to open the register at that time. The suspect then reached into his waistband and exposed the grip of a silver handgun.”

The suspect then took $107 in cash from the customer in the store, a 19-year-old male from Montclair. The armed robber then fled on foot. At the time of the robbery, the three employees and one customer were the only people inside the restaurant. No injuries were reported.