Luzerne County restaurant opens for takeout after fire

AVOCA, LUZERNE COUNTY (WBRE/WYOU)— A restaurant in Luzerne County is opening for takeout this weekend after a fire in the basement forced them to temporarily close .

28/22 News Reporter Sydney Kostus spoke to the owners about the clean-up process and what led to the decision.

Cutting up, weighing, and forming perfectly round pizza dough. It’s an every morning task at Colarusso’s Cafe on Main Street in Avoca.

“Lent, especially Good Friday, right before Easter, is very very very busy,” said Mario Colarusso, manager of Colarusso’s cafe.

A change on the menu, these pizzas will be take-out only following a fire that broke out early Saturday morning in the pizzeria’s basement.

“When I came down, I looked and was like, ‘Whoa.’ Smoke was everywhere, there’s firemen everywhere, there’s firetrucks everywhere,” said Kevin Colarusso, co-owner of Colarusso’s Cafe.

The fire was contained inside a dryer, but smoke damage is still seen days later throughout the shop.

“This place could be a lot different right now if it wasn’t for the firefighters that responded very quickly,” Mario told 28/22 News.

Losing profit not just from being closed, but also from needing to toss out food that fills their freezers.

“Now I have to come in and throw out all the stuff that I made all in the garbage because it’s got smoke, it’s got soot on it, it’s got this and that,” said Kevin.

The family-owned pizzeria has been around for more than 40 years. Its owners, staff, and even community members have been working around the clock to reopen its doors.

Acts of kindness that Co-owner Lynn Colarusso says are priceless in their time of need.

“I had a gentleman from New Jersey who came in for our pizza and would not leave until he could do something for us, so it was very touching,” Lynn said.

Now the family wants to give back to its customers, making sure they’re open Friday and Saturday for pizza takeout this holiday weekend.

“Every person that comes in here, that buys a tray of pizza or buys whatever from me, I consider family,” Kevin said.

Colarusso’s Cafe in Avoca will be open from 11:00 a.m. to 9:00 p.m. for pizza takeout only tomorrow and Saturday.

They said they hope to reopen its dining room sometime next week.

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