Popular Morris Co. Restaurant Officially Closes After Five-Alarm Fire

DOVER, NJ — A longtime Morris County spot for Spanish cuisine announced it will permanently close, after a massive fire that damaged the building last year.

A fire last September destroyed a multi-family housing complex above Dover's Jai-Alai restaurant, displacing about 50 people.

The family owners said that February would have marked 43 years of operation at 73 West Blackwell Street, but that they are not planning to reopen.

"There is substantial damage from the fire, financial restraints, and personal reasons that will prevent any possibility of reopening at this time," the owners posted on April 26.

Jai-Alai was founded by the late Ignacio "Nick" Cenicacelaya, a native of the Basque Country in northern Spain. Cenicacelaya died in 2017 at the age of 82, having lived in Rockaway for more than 50 years after immigrating to the United States.

His children and family members took over running Jai-Alai when he passed, continuing to serve up authentic Spanish recipes and their popular sangria.

"We hope to keep in touch with the many, many, great friends we have met along the way," the post said. "You have a special place in our hearts and always will. So it's adios, until we meet again."

Many Facebook commenters said they had great memories at Jai-Alai for birthday dinners and family events, and some suggested that Cenicacelaya's family could put together a cookbook of favorite recipes.

Previous reporting — Fire Damage Closes Morris County Restaurant 'Until Further Notice'