OCEANSIDE — A restaurant is still picking up the pieces after a fire sparked inside its building along South Coast Highway just before Christmas, causing significant damage to the building and equipment.
Firefighters responded to the blaze around 6:10 p.m. Dec. 23 at Bread and Cheese Eatery and its sister dining spot, And Breakfast Burritos, a dual restaurant concept, at 1904 South Coast Highway.
According to the Oceanside Fire Department, firefighters immediately advanced a hose line to search the interior and suppress the fire, which produced heavy, dark smoke and limited visibility inside the restaurant.
Crews located the fire’s origin in the back of the restaurant. Two truck companies coordinated roof operations to provide vertical ventilation, reducing heat and smoke inside and allowing crews to safely continue attacking the fire while conducting search operations.
The fire was under control within 40 minutes of arrival and prevented the blaze from spreading to the triplex’s adjoining laundromat and the former Rose Cafe, which had closed about a week prior to the fire.
No injuries were reported; however, the fire caused significant damage to the restaurant and the building overall.
Restaurant owner Justin Frank said experts told him it would likely take a year before the restaurant can reopen.
Frank started a GoFundMe to help cover recovery costs after community members asked how they could help. He said the additional funds will also help in the long run, as he anticipates insurance will not cover everything needed to recover from the damage and yearlong closure.
“At this point, it is clear that our coverage won’t cover all of this, and we will have to come out of pocket,” Frank said on GoFundMe. “So these donations are very much appreciated to help us navigate this.”
The investigation into the fire is ongoing. Frank said the fire appears to have started in the back, near the restaurant’s storage area — not in the kitchen, which is in the center of the space.
For now, Frank’s business will continue providing catering services, as well as food and drink concessionaire services, at the Moonlight Amphitheater in Vista.
Frank, an Encinitas resident, started his business about eight years ago by attending farmers’ markets with a pop-up food tent. He opened his first brick-and-mortar location in Oceanside about two years ago after spending time searching for the right space in North County.
“Oceanside is a great place,” he said.
Although disappointed by the damage to his brick-and-mortar business, Frank said he is doing his best to remain positive. He also said he has been overwhelmed by the amount of community support he has received.
“It’s just been so heartwarming to see the amount of support comments on our social media and from people reaching out personally — it’s been really helpful through a rough week,” he said. “As we go through, we’ll take one step at a time, keep moving forward, and we’ll figure it out.”
To continue ordering catering from Bread and Cheese Eatery/And Breakfast Burritos, visit breadandcheeseeatery.com or andbreakfastburritos.com.
