Big Fire Destroys Beloved New Jersey Diner [VIDEO]

A big fire gutted a beloved New Jersey diner Tuesday evening, police said.

John Zalepka, a nearby resident, took video of the fire (see below) that showed flames shooting out of the roof of the single-story JB's Diner on Route 537, a popular restaurant for decades.

Freehold Township police officer Brian Worth told The Asbury Park Press that a preliminary investigation by the Monmouth County Fire Marshall’s Office showed the fire to be accidental.

The newspaper also reported that a server yelled for everyone to get out after she smelled smoke and saw flames. The diner was closed at the time and no one was injured.

Zalepka said he liked to bring his kids to the diner at the intersection of Route 524 in the Smithburg section in Freehold.

“It’s amazing how a tragedy brings people together, both physically and emotionally as we shared stories of all the great memories we had there," he was quoted as saying by NJ101.5, "as well as all of the historical memorabilia that was certainly lost in the fire.”

The diner was apparently about 80 years old, featuring 1950s music, and was known for its statue of Elvis.

Here is a video of the fire:

People paid tribute to the diner on Twitter.

Video/photos, published with permission, courtesy of NJ101.5 and John Zalepka, who is chairman of the Freehold Township Education Foundation.