Kitchen Fire Rips Through Beloved Berkeley Restaurant

BERKELEY, NJ — The Bayville community is rallying around a popular local restaurant after it was badly damaged in a kitchen fire late Monday.

It was about 10 p.m. Monday when the Bayville Volunteer Fire Department was dispatched to Grits & Grace, a family-owned diner.

"Firefighters were met with heavy fire and smoke conditions coming from the building," the fire department said.

The heavy fire led to a partial structure collapse.

The fire department was able to quickly bring the blaze under control. No injuries were reported.

The fire was ruled to be accidental, starting in the kitchen, according to the Ocean County Prosecutor's Office.

Grits & Grace is "more than just a restaurant," according to a GoFundMe launched by the staff to help the owners.

"In a matter of moments, the fire took away the business they worked so hard to build, along with their equipment, supplies, and livelihood," the GoFundMe reads. "While raising their young daughter, this family poured everything they had into their restaurant, staff, family, friends, and the community they serve."

It has raised more than $11,000 of its $13,000 goal as of Tuesday morning.

You can find the fundraiser here.