Fire Guts Roof of Iconic Jersey Shore Restaurant

Casa Taco, in the South Shore community of Sea Isle City, is ravaged by flames; roof subsequently collapses

Casa Taco in Sea Isle City, N.J., was gutted by flames that destroyed the restaurant’s roof. — Sea Isle City, N.J., the last stop along the popular Jersey Shore, has a rich history that stretches back to its roots as a fishing community. In 1882, Charles K. Landis, the founder of Vineland, N.J., purchased Ludlam Island and envisioned a seaside resort inspired by Venice, Italy. Landis created a network of waterways and canals, giving the city its unique charm, according to the town's website.
Images courtesy of Google Maps and Facebook
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The Jersey Shore, beloved getaway for generations, has lost an iconic restaurant in Sea Isle City: Casa Taco — an institution that has drawn visitors to the community’s iconic boardwalk and Fish Alley section of town — was ravaged by a fire that gutted its roof which later collapsed.

Fire departments from Sea Isle City, as well as neighboring communities Avalon, Marmora, Ocean City, Ocean View and Strathmere, responded to the scene, and the fire was under control within an hour, according to officials as first reported by NJ.com.

No injuries were reported, but Casa Taco sustained extensive damage. A connected restaurant, Casino Pizza, was also damaged in the fire. Officials said both restaurants were the only two businesses in the commercial building at 4210 Park Road.

“We’re heartbroken to share that Casa Taco was engulfed in flames, and the roof collapsed in,” HiYT Development posted on social media on behalf of the restaurant’s owner, Victor Loaeza.

“The most important thing is that everyone is safe,” Loaeza said in the post. “We can’t thank our fire departments and emergency personnel enough for their quick response and bravery. We’ll keep you updated as we move forward.”

The Sea Isle City Police Department, along with the Cape May County and state fire marshals, is investigating. No injuries were reported.

The roof of the popular Jersey Shore Mexican restaurant Casa Taco went up in flames earlier this month. The beloved eatery in Sea Isle City, N.J., had been a local staple. At left: Google Maps image circa 2021; at right: firefighters working to extinguish the flames (photo by Mark Brabowski, courtesy of Facebook, taken on August 14, 2024).

KEYWORDS: fire resistance New Jersey

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Bryan Gottlieb is the online editor at Engineering News-Record (ENR).

Gottlieb is a five-time Society of Professional Journalists Excellence in Journalism award winner with more than a decade of experience covering business, construction, and community issues. He has worked at Adweek, managed a community newsroom in Santa Monica, Calif., and reported on finance, law, and real estate for the San Diego Daily Transcript. He later served as editor-in-chief of the Detroit Metro Times and was managing editor at Roofing Contractor, where he helped shape national industry coverage.

Gottlieb covers breaking news, large-scale infrastructure projects, new products and business.