$800,000 fire at pizza place

Blaze claims Dante's Pizza and Pasta House
Loss could top $800,000; reopening undecided

NEW PHILADELPHIA —

Fire engulfed and heavily damaged a popular Italian restaurant along one of the city’s main east-west thoroughfares early Monday.

One of its owners said Monday afternoon that insurance estimators will ultimately determine whether Dante’s Pizza & Pasta House will reopen at 261 W. High Ave.

“Since they’re the folks who ultimately are going to pay the bill, they’re going to determine which is the more practical thing — whether it’s to raze it, or to settle it,” said Dan Drabik, who owns and operates Dante’s with his wife, Betty.

The fire began on the first floor in the kitchen area of the 144-year-old, brick structure, then spread to the second and third floors.

Its cause was ruled as undetermined Monday afternoon by the Ohio Fire Marshal’s Office, according to New Philadelphia Fire Chief Jim Parrish.

The chief believes the structure is a total loss, but recognized that the loss determination remains in the hands of insurance adjusters and a special insurance investigator.

If declared to be 100 percent, the loss could amount to $800,000 to $900,000, Drabik estimated. He noted that his business owner’s policy will cover his employees’ payroll for 60 days.

Parrish said the fire was discovered by firefighter/paramedics who were westbound on West High Avenue, responding to an emergency medical call in a fire department ambulance. He said the crew reported the fire at 2:34 a.m., and continued on to the medical call.

Firefighters encountered heavy smoke throughout the structure, and flames were being emitted from a kitchen ventilator, Parrish said. He noted that the fire spread both “vertically and horizontally,” as it entered the second floor through an open stairway, and climbed into the third floor.

Firefighters from Dover, Uhrichsville, York Township and Sugarcreek responded, as well as Smith Ambulance Service and the Salvation Army. New Philadelphia firefighters remained at the scene until 8 a.m. Monday.

Drabik said that he had been in the building — which had been closed for business since Saturday night — listening to his stereo until about 11 p.m. Sunday. He noticed nothing unusual when he left.

When he returned after being notified by firefighters of the fire, Drabik saw heavy black smoke pouring out through windows, vents, soffit and an exhaust fan.

Drabik said Parrish told him firefighters were pumping 1,700 gallons of water per minute into the structure, and it was the structural integrity of the building that allowed it to remain standing. The chief told him that had the building been of modern construction, it would have collapsed from the weight of the water.

Drabik said he and his wife are “going to do our level best” to continue the catering business in the meantime, noting that they have had some offers of facilities that may be available for their use.

Parrish said the Drabiks, true to form, were preparing for a catering obligation Monday in the neighboring kitchen in First United Methodist Church.

The restaurant has been in operation on W. High Avenue in New Philadelphia for 14 years, and in the fall of 2010 was chosen by Times-Reporter readers as the best Italian restaurant in the Tuscarawas Valley.

The fire was the third at a New Philadelphia restaurant this year. In January, the R&S Party Center on Front Avenue SW was heavily damaged and in March, Uncle Primo’s on Minnich Avenue NW was damaged by a fire, resulting in both having to close for extensive repairs.