From the ashes of a cold February tragedy, the owner of Alteri’s in Glenmont hopes to rebuild.
A fire broke out early Valentine’s Day at the Alteri’s Italian American Restaurant on Route 9W, gutting the building’s interior.
Investigators said the fire, which was reported at 1:40 a.m. Saturday, Feb. 14, was caused by electrical issues and was accidental. Although fire officials deemed the structure safe, the building and its contents appear to be a total loss.
From what I can see everything is burned, said owner Harvey Quinn.
Route 9W was shut down for nearly six hours, while National Grid employees shut down power to the street. Bethlehem police have reported no injuries.
`I got a call from the alarm company around quarter to 2, and they told me there was a fire,` Quinn said. `I was down there by quarter after 2 and there was a lot of smoke, smoke just pouring out from the back and then you could see the flames coming out from the roof and windows.`
Fire departments from Selkirk, Elsmere and Delmar responded to extinguish the fire. Members from Bethlehem Volunteer Ambulance, Delmar Rescue Squad and Albany County Paramedics also responded.
Bethlehem police issued the following statement:
`Through their investigation and based upon the physical evidence present, the cause of the fire is officially labeled as accidental/electrical. The area of origin has been determined to be the rear of the building.`
There were no injuries reported in the incident.
`It’s a pretty scary situation,` Quinn said, `but I hope to rebuild, and in the best situation, be back in six months. Bethlehem is a great area, and the people are fantastic down here.`
Quinn has been a vocal small business owner in Bethlehem and was at the center of a zoning dispute last June that involved a lunchtime banner displayed at the restaurant that town officials said violated town code. Quinn was cited for the banner and could have faced jail time under the former zoning regulations.
Because of the case, the Town Board voted unanimously in early June to amend the fees portion of Section 128 of the Bethlehem zoning code and reduce its maximum penalty from six months in jail to 15 days in jail and/or a $350 fine per violation.
The reason the town decided to change the code, according to Town Attorney James Potter, is because Quinn’s trial brought the stiff penalty to light.
Quinn said he wants to stay and continue the 40-year community business that he bought in 2001.
`We’ll be back and have a nice restaurant for people to go to,` he said. `We love the people here and hope to be back as soon as possible.`
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