Mahwah Pizzeria That Closed After Fire Raises Money For 'Key Staff'

MAHWAH, NJ — A Mahwah pizza restaurant that temporarily closed after a fire Thursday morning is raising money to help its staff.

"As owners, our main focus at this time is trying to support our staff, who are now without work for an extended period," said the owners of Novino Ristorante on Thursday night. "Many of our adult staff — pizza makers, chefs, prep staff, servers, are sole providers; many living paycheck to paycheck to provide security for their families."

The owners said they are assisting their staff, but they may need more to cover basic needs.

They restaurant on Route 202 had closed after firefighters responded to a fire in the kitchen around 4:15 a.m. Thursday.

The family-owned Novino Ristorante serves up everything from wood-fired pizza to Italian favorites such as shrimp scampi and pasta with Sunday gravy.

Mahwah Fire Company No. 2 said on Thursday that after they showed up, "A working fire was dispatched bringing the remaining township fire companies to the scene along with multiple mutual aid towns. We cannot stress the importance of working smoke detectors and fire alarms."

The owners of the restaurant said in a statement, “Due to the seriousness of the fire, all operations were affected and Novino will be closed for an extended period. We will keep you informed through social media as we begin our recovery and rebuilding process."

Customers posted supportive messages on social media and expressed gratitude that no one was hurt.

The restaurant later posted to say, "The overwhelming response and outpouring of support that we have been receiving is inspiring, encouraging, and genuine. Each and every kindness and heartfelt message means so much to us."

The fundraiser had raised more than $2,700 by Friday afternoon. It can be found here.

READ MORE: Family-Owned Pizzeria Closes After Fire