Fire at Chris restaurant

Mar 14, 2026 at 8:24pm

My friend told me about it as she lives nearby. What is the current status?


Morganna said:

My friend told me about it as she lives nearby. What is the current status?

Sheena is updating on Facebook. South orange avenue will be closed off for a while, between Sloan Street and Scotland road. 
Happy to hear no one was injured. 


Oh, what a shame!  Glad it sounds as though no one was hurt.  Looks like a lot of damage to recover from.  My heart is with Maria and her crew,   LOL


South Orange Ave is open. The sidewalk on Vose next to the restaurant is closed with lots of debris. But Vose itself is open.  

I feel terrible for everyone involved. The restaurant owners have a tough row to hoe ahead. Insurance claims can take a lot of time once any investigation is done. Then rebuilding is an expensive and time-consuming process with architects, contractors and permits. 

I don’t know how many apartments were above the restaurant but those folks are now looking for new homes. 

Given current trends in downtown South Orange I wouldn’t be at all surprised if this catalyzes a choice to demolish the building and put up something new and taller. 


mrincredible said:

South Orange Ave is open. The sidewalk on Vose next to the restaurant is closed with lots of debris. But Vose itself is open.  

I feel terrible for everyone involved. The restaurant owners have a tough row to hoe ahead. Insurance claims can take a lot of time once any investigation is done. Then rebuilding is an expensive and time-consuming process with architects, contractors and permits. 

I don’t know how many apartments were above the restaurant but those folks are now looking for new homes. 

Given current trends in downtown South Orange I wouldn’t be at all surprised if this catalyzes a choice to demolish the building and put up something new and taller. 

yes that was my first thought. This building is beyond repair. 
I never thought living above a restaurant was safe. Seen too many fires in buildings that had restaurants on the ground floor. It’s a fire hazard. 


We don't know where the fire started.  No reason to assume it was in the restaurant.


Yesterday's Ledger reported that the family that owned Chris's, was the family whose daughter was killed in Cranford with her friend by the car driver last summer.


Yes, that is true.  She was Maria's grand daughter .  She has had no luck but bad luck for the last year or two.  I wasn't sharing that because I didn't think it was my info to share, but I guess it is all out there now.  I am working with a few people to find a way to help her.  



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