Arson caused landmark Bellmore restaurant blaze, investigators say

A fire that gutted the former landmark Bellmore restaurant Smithville Café early Monday morning is being attributed to arson, police and fire investigators say.

"We have eliminated all accidental and natural causes," said Vincent McManus, Nassau County fire marshal division supervisor.

"It was intentionally set," said Brian Kaminski, an Arson/Bomb Squad detective.

The investigation into who may have set the fire and the method used is continuing, according to police and fire investigators. "We have some people we want to talk to," Kaminski said. "We will begin interviewing shortly."

Sources close to the investigation said that teenagers may have used a flammable liquid to start the fire. This was not confirmed, and no arrests in connection with the crime had been made at press time.

Starting about 1 a.m. on Monday, the North Bellmore and Bellmore fire departments, assisted by the Wantagh and East Meadow departments, responded to a call about a fire at the former eatery, at Bellmore Avenue and Bellmore Road. The Merrick and North Merrick departments were on standby throughout the long effort to extinguish the blaze.

The house-like wood structure was most recently home to Laura's BBQ Roadhouse, until it was abandoned a little over a year ago, according to residents. Before that, for more than 100 years, it was the Smithville Café, operated by a series of owners and managers. The property's current real estate rental agency, A.J. Finkelstein Realty, did not return calls for comment.

Nassau County police officer John Mullaney and county fire investigator Bohdan Pilczak confirmed that the cause of the blaze was arson.

About 100 firefighters battled the fire for four hours, according to the Police Arson Bomb Squad, with flames and smoke visible for several blocks. The building's second story was destroyed, and the rest of the structure suffered extensive damage. There were no reported injuries.