Fund Launched To Help Fire-Damaged Inwood Pizzeria Rebuild

INWOOD, NY — The friend of the owner of an Inwood pizzeria damaged in a two-alarm fire is raising money to help the business owner rebuild.

A fund created on GoFundMe said Angel Salazar purchased Grandpa's Brick Oven Pizza just two months ago after starting at the pizzeria since it opened in 2004. Salazar worked his way up from behind the counter to store manager in 2005 and accomplished a lifelong dream by buying the business in 2017, saving it from closing, according to the fund.

"Since taking ownership, Angel has worked 14 hour days for the past two months just to see his dreams come true: To successfully own and operate his own business, and provide for his family," GoFundMe page creator Steven Hazlett said.

The pizzeria, located on Broadway between West 211th and 212th streets, was heavily damaged when a fire broke out in the business early Saturday morning, fire officials said. The call for the fire at 4973 Broadway came in at 4:08 a.m., an FDNY spokesman told Patch. The fire, which was in the walls of the building, was hard to reach, the spokesman said.

About 106 firefighters worked to bring the blaze under control just before 5 a.m. No injuries were reported and the cause of the fire is under investigation.

The business was forced to close due to the fire, according to the GoFundMe page. Flames tore through the back of the restaurant a destroyed most of the kitchen, according to the fund. While the business owner hopes insurance will help pay for repairs, rebuilding Grandpa's will be costly.

"Angel has come so far, and has helped so many in our community. As the caring and loving community we are, I ask that the members of Inwood/Washington Heights contribute what we can to see Angel's dream continue to flourish for him, his family," the GoFundMe page reads.

See the GoFundMe campaign here.

Photos courtesy Steven R. Hazlett