Another Buzzards Bay restaurant

[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!

[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.

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[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.