Fire guts Mexican restaurant on Main Street in Matawan and damages pet shop next door

MATAWAN—A fire destroyed a Mexican restaurant on Main Street in the borough early Tuesday and damaged a pet shop next to it, police said.

The blaze at Aby's Mexican Restaurant was reported shortly after 2:30 a.m.

First responders saw smoke billowing from the rear of the one-story brick building at 32 Main Street and flames showing within it, Detective Joseph Mason of the Matawan Police Department said.

It took about an hour for firefighters to knock down the bulk of the blaze, he said.

The fire heavily damaged the restaurant, gutting it, he said. The business next to it, Feather Fabulous Birds, suffered some damage, although the extent of it was not yet available.

The Monmouth County SPCA, which provides animal control for Matawan and other towns, was called in to take some of the birds, Mason said.

Ross Licitra, executive director of the SPCA, said a hamster and a few of the birds died of smoke inhalation. The remaining hamsters, gerbils and birds were kept in a safe place, he said.

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According to the restaurant's website, it opened in 2002, starting off as a pizzeria then gradually shifting over to Mexican food.

No cause of the fire has been determined, Mason said. The Monmouth County Fire Marshal’s Office is investigating.

Editor's note: the name of the pet shop provided by authorities was erroneous in the original story and has been corrected in this updated version.

Ken Serrano covers crime, breaking news, investigations and local issues. Reach him at [email protected].

This article originally appeared on Asbury Park Press: Matawan NJ fire: Mexican restaurant gutted, pet shop next door damaged