Fire destroys Mount Vernon restaurant

Fire officials say flames broke out at the Mozza Restaurant and Bar at 95 Gramatan Ave. around 10 p.m.

News 12 Staff

Oct 13, 2021, 12:53 PM

Updated 1,017 days ago

Share:

A massive fire destroyed a Mount Vernon business overnight and heavily damaged the adjacent businesses as well.
Fire officials say flames broke out at the Mozza Restaurant and Bar at 95 Gramatan Ave. around 8 p.m.
"I wasn't born here, I'm an immigrant and I'm trying and for this to just happen to me *cries* I don't understand," said 25-year-old Donna Roa, a new business owner.
Mozza Restaurant and Bar has been closed but it was set to reopen in just a few weeks — as Donna's new restaurant — "Eden" — a dream of hers since she was a little girl. 
"I cook, I'm good at it, I like messing with flavor," Roa added. "It was everything I ever wanted and it's just gone. Overnight it's just gone.*
Mount Vernon Mayor Shawyn Patterson-Howard says that many of the businesses in the area have tin roofs which hold the heat and create oven-like heat, making fires very difficult to put out. The Yonkers fire department were also called to assist Mount Vernon firefighters furiously fight the flames for more than seven hours.
The adjacent businesses, Flash Cleaners and Tailors and AD Sports Bar have suffered significant water and structural damage. The interior roof of the sports bar had to be pulled down while racks of clothes in the cleaners have been destroyed. No injuries have been reported.
The mayor says it was the second fire in the city in 24 hours. An earlier fire on Cedar Street took firefighters around three hours to extinguish.


More from News 12
1:40
Lithium-ion battery fire blamed for closure of Newburgh tailor shop

Lithium-ion battery fire blamed for closure of Newburgh tailor shop

2:08
Sun skies and warm temps for Saturday in the Hudson Valley

Sun skies and warm temps for Saturday in the Hudson Valley

0:52
Slate Hill family of 5 loses home in afternoon blaze

Slate Hill family of 5 loses home in afternoon blaze

0:37
2 people charged in Middletown narcotics; firearms bust

2 people charged in Middletown narcotics; firearms bust

1:30
Motorcycle, van crash in Greenburgh causes serious injuries

Motorcycle, van crash in Greenburgh causes serious injuries

0:56
News 12 probes mystery cloud traced to Orange County & seen throughout tri-state area

News 12 probes mystery cloud traced to Orange County & seen throughout tri-state area

1:02
Hillcrest Fire Department receives 2,000 cans of drinking water, courtesy of Anheuser-Busch

Hillcrest Fire Department receives 2,000 cans of drinking water, courtesy of Anheuser-Busch

1:37
Storm Watch Team Meteorologist Skyler Harman strikes down lightning myths

Storm Watch Team Meteorologist Skyler Harman strikes down lightning myths

2:33
Can swimming become dangerous due to extremely high water surface temperatures?

Can swimming become dangerous due to extremely high water surface temperatures?

0:32
NYC officials: Westchester caseworker’s death ruled a homicide

NYC officials: Westchester caseworker’s death ruled a homicide

0:40
State, federal lawmakers introduce legislation to shorten funding gap for World Trade Center Health Program

State, federal lawmakers introduce legislation to shorten funding gap for World Trade Center Health Program

0:34
Ex Frito-Lay employee files defamation lawsuit against PepsiCo claiming he invented ‘Flamin’ Hot Cheetos

Ex Frito-Lay employee files defamation lawsuit against PepsiCo claiming he invented ‘Flamin’ Hot Cheetos

0:40
Executive orders still in place preventing Rockland County and Orange County hotels from converting into migrant shelters

Executive orders still in place preventing Rockland County and Orange County hotels from converting into migrant shelters

0:54
Headlines: Drug ring prison sentence, Newburgh felony charge, uptick in car thefts in Briarcliff Manor

Headlines: Drug ring prison sentence, Newburgh felony charge, uptick in car thefts in Briarcliff Manor

0:20
Man sentence to 10 years in prison for running Orange County drug ring

Man sentence to 10 years in prison for running Orange County drug ring

1:18
Town of Wallkill propose noise ordinances at Orange County fairgrounds

Town of Wallkill propose noise ordinances at Orange County fairgrounds

0:22
Rockland athlete to compete in U.S. Olympic rowing team

Rockland athlete to compete in U.S. Olympic rowing team

0:27
Slate Hill FD: Garage fire brought under control

Slate Hill FD: Garage fire brought under control

0:32
Rockland hiker rescued by firefighters in Gurnee Park

Rockland hiker rescued by firefighters in Gurnee Park

0:34
Finger in salad lawsuit against Chop’t discontinued

Finger in salad lawsuit against Chop’t discontinued