Fire damages Country Town Diner in Berlin, NJ

BERLIN, N.J. (WPVI) -- Investigators are looking for the cause of a fire that gutted a diner in Berlin, New Jersey.

The fire broke out at the Country Town Diner on South White Horse Pike near East Broad Street around 11:30 p.m. Wednesday.

Chopper 6 HD was over the scene Thursday, and authorities could be seen through a hole in the roof as they combed through charred remains.

It was a sad sight for customers.

"Just totally shocked because we had just been here last Wednesday or Thursday for breakfast," said Sandy Adrion.

State, county and local fire marshals were on scene to try to determine a cause.

"It's a pretty devastating fire. Business is going to be closed for quite some time and the investigation is continuing," said Berlin Fire Marshal Bill Behnke.

Customers say the diner changed hands last year. The new owner, who was on the scene much of the day, held a grand reopening in October.

"It was very nice. It looks like from when we used to go, when the old people had it, they had fixed it up inside," said Adrion.

"We've been coming here before it was Country Town Diner, we've been coming here for many years. They were very nice. I'm sad to see this happen," said Kevin Dark.

For much of the afternoon, investigators waited for heavy machinery needed to gain access to the spot where the fire started.

Behnke wouldn't say whether the fire is suspicious but did say there's a lot more to investigate.

The owner of the diner declined to speak to Action News.

No one was injured in this fire.

------

Send a breaking news alert to Action News
Report a correction or typo
Want to comment?
Learn more about the 6abc apps