Another Buzzards Bay restaurant

[Squid kids Dad]

is on fire...Just heard on the radio the Meza Luna on Main st has been burning since 4:30....What is going on with restaurants down there..Seems like one a year burns down...

[BigFish]

And during the "%$%$%$%$ season? Hmmmmmmm???

The obscured word above should be "%$%$%$%$.....don't know why it was skewed!

[UserRemoved1]

HOLY MOLY that's been there a long time. Too bad.

[Swimmer]

Urban renewal, 2007 style. Too expensive to overhaul, cheaper to burn down and start from scratch after Noonan carts everythiny away in 40 yard dumpsters. Busier the season, larger the insurance claim for loss income.

[Mike P]

Maybe you guys should wait until there's evidence of arson before you jump to conclusions.

I highly doubt this was arson. Saturday is their busiest night of the week--they gross thousands on a Saturday and the line is usually out the door around 7 PM. Arson fires break out at 4 in the morning--not 5 in the afternoon when the place is full of customers. One death from smoke inhalation would wipe out any insurance recovery and then some, and land the owner in jail for murder if proveable. No one torches a business with customers inside.

The owners are independently wealthy local developers and don't need to torch a place to rescue a failing business.

I'm shocked that someone in law enforcement would engage in reckless speculation before all of the facts are in, Swimmer. Larry shooting from the hip? That I expected. You? I'm disappointed.

[BigFish]

Easy Mike! Were they open today?? Are they a year round operation?? Just noting the strange coincidence of all these eateries in that area coming under the flame!

[Bob Thomas]

Another place gone!! They had great food and wonderful staff. What is going on down there? Hope everyone is alright!! What a shame!!!

[clambelly]

Originally Posted by BigFish

Easy Mike! Were they open today?? Are they a year round operation?? Just noting the strange coincidence of all these eateries in that area coming under the flame!

they are open year-round and do a good business even in the winter time. they serve a great prime rib on wednesday and saturday nights, and as mike said, the line is usually out the door.

i have been friends with the family for many years. my dad worked in the kitchen 40 years ago washing dishes. it is a sad day for Buzzards Bay. they will rebuild for sure, and it will be better then ever.

the saddest part about it was the history inside that place. they had pictures of Buzzards Bay's hey day during WWII when Camp Edwards was housing thousands of GI's and their families. that restaurant was hopping. even during the declining days of BBay since they put in the rt. 25 extension, they have still managed to do a hell of a business.

mezza3.jpg

mezza6.jpg

[Mike P]

The Cubellis family owns lots of properties in Buzzards Bay and Wareham. They own the building--or what's left of it--the land, Leo's breakfast place next door, and the office building next to that, plus some duplex rental units behind Leo's. I think they may even own the Xtra Mart and the land it's on. The Mezza Luna has been paid for several times over, and the bar alone keeps the bills paid and the lights on over the winter. They do a good business from Wednesday right through Sunday, even in February.

This is the second major restaurant fire. Quintals wasn't a major fire and the business was closed before the fire was set. Penners was the other biggie and it was an entirely different situation. The owner got caught screwing around on his wife and she was about to take him to the cleaners in a divorce. That fire was started at about 2:30 in the morning. The building was fully involved when the fire dept arrived and the hydrant in front of the building had been disabled. The fire marshall who investigated took one good whiff, smelled an accellerant and declared "arson" before sunrise.

This is way different. You have a family owned business that's been passed down thru the generations for over 70 years, making a profit, for owners that really don't need to be in the restaurant business to start with to make a buck. They kept it going as a family tradition and out of loyalty to their customers over the years. I'm betting they rebuild before Memorial Day 2008.

It might turn out to be a torch job, but I don't think it will be found to be one. All I'm saying is don't trash the name of a respected local family until there's an investigation and the fire is declared suspicious.

[hyefisherman2]

devastating news! when i first saw it on the "other" board i was shocked.

[Squid kids Dad]

Take it easy Mike..To many coinsidences if you ask me...We shall see

[BigFish]

Lets hope your right Mike! I am a huge fan of local "Mom and Pop" eateries! We need them big time! I eat at Leo's once in awhile!

[Raven]

thats a real shame

i liked eating there

[Flaptail]

You would have to be absolutely out of you mind to purposely set a fire like that at the time it broke out. Two dozen people already in there eating. The place was in need of some repairs. Booths were in disrepair and the carpeting and walls needed some TLC. Why? Because the place was always busy. Wednesday night Prime Rib and my favorite Veal Parmesan with a glass of Lambruscco with a slice of lemon floating in it.

I loved that place, I hope they rebuild. It was a family operation all the way. Many times eating there people would stop in just to buy the bread they baked there. No way this could have been arson, most likely deferred maintenance came up and bit them in the ass.

[UserRemoved1]

Very sad. I could only imagine the loss the owners and employees must be feeling right now.

[Swimmer]

I put my foot in my mouth once in awhile and maybe I did here. If so, I'll apologize if the reasons for the fire happening was anything other than suspicious at best. I find it interesting though that at 4:30 p.m. a fire starts that is so far ahead of the fire department when they arrive the building is lost. While it may not be intentional it could passively intentional in that repairs to wiring and general building upkeep, such as cleaning the duct work over the grills of grease, behind the scenes was so tardy and ineffective a fire was allowed to happen in that regard. To me that means the owners don't give a hoot. With all the current rules in effect and inspections that occur it is difficult to imagine that the fire occured for reasons other than intentional in one form or another. It could be a disgruntled ex-employee also.

MikeP, I am sorry that my original answer is cynical, but it is based on a great number of years seeing buildings burned down and everyone elses insurance rates go up. Verry rarely does prosecution occur with arson. It is an extremely easy crime to commit and get away with. Maybe it wasn't in this case. I hope it was just a "normal" fire.

[Mike P]

Swimmer, the place wasn't fully involved when the first units arrived. It was a case of smoke coming out from under the roof. The fire started in the attic--probably electrical. It's a 70 year old building, after all. In fact, the owner and his son went upstairs with an extinguisher at first to try and put it out, which to me would seem to point away from him setting it. The owner's a 90 year old man, by the way. They failed and called 911. The fire station is at the other end of Main Street and they were there in minutes. Someone made what might have been an ill-advised decision to ventilate the roof and possibly, when oxygen hit the attic, the fire really took off. Once it hit the kitchen it just exploded.

This wasn't a case of a failing business cashing out for the insurance. The owner is determined to rebuild. This place has been in the family for 70 years. I assure you that the owner doesn't need a cash influx--it's a labor of love on his part. I had breakfast at Leo's next door this morning. There were about a dozen employees all wearing their employee T-shirts just standing around, offering support and any help they can supply. There's a fire marshall's van as obviously there has to be an investigation. But you know what's really remarkable--on the sign outside, there's a message to the public from the Cubellis family--"We'll See U Soon".

They're going to rebuild.

[chief10]

I drove by around 8pm last night and couldn't believe the scene. Thank god everyone got out!

[UserRemoved1]

http://www.thebostonchannel.com/news...91/detail.html

[Swimmer]

As I said if I am wrong Mike I appologize and it appears that I am and at this point I do appologize for my sarcastic cycnical post. I hope the family does rebuild. The meatballs weighed a ton and filled you up.