Less than 24 hours after fire gutted Visaggio’s Ristorante in Cumberland County, the owners said they plan to rebuild.
John and Bill Lumadue’s parents, Bill and Rosemary, have owned the restaurant on Wertzville Road in Silver Spring Township for more than three decades. It features a ballroom and hotel attached to the restaurant.
“3800 hits on Facebook just since yesterday, so obviously we’re loved. All our friends are here, all the firefighters,” Bill said Monday afternoon.
His family spent much of the day Monday working with insurance adjustors, state police and the federal Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco and Firearms.
Investigators had not determined a cause of the fire as of Monday evening.
Firefighters from four counties responded to the blaze, which broke out around 6 p.m. Sunday.
Fire officials say there was no public water nearby. Strong winds also hindered the effort at times. County spokesman John Bruetsch said two firefighters were injured Sunday evening. Both were treated at the hospital and released, Bruetsch said.
The Lumadue brothers said they expect the rebuilding effort to take three to six months. They hope to hold a grand reopening celebration when the restaurant is ready.
Throughout the day Monday, friends and former employees stopped by to see the damage and offer their support to the owners.
“I saw it on the TV this morning, and it almost made me sick, really. They’re great people, great kids, great restaurant, great to work for,” said Wayne Keim, who worked at the restaurant from 1982 to 1984.