BERKELEY — A fundraiser has been launched to help the family behind Grits and Grace after a fire destroyed the Bayville restaurant, wiping out the business they spent years building and leaving them to face the loss of their equipment, supplies and main source of income.
Supporters say the family-run restaurant, which opened in 2021, had become a gathering place for the community and a business built on long hours, sacrifice and dedication. Organizers of the fundraiser said the owners were raising their young daughter while pouring their energy into the restaurant, their staff and the customers they served.
The fundraiser is aimed at helping the family get through the immediate aftermath of the fire and begin rebuilding. Organizers said every contribution can help, and those who cannot donate are encouraged to share the campaign to widen its reach.
“This family poured everything they had into their restaurant,” organizers said in the appeal, describing Grits and Grace as more than a business but a place where people came together over meals and community.
To donate to the GoFundMe, click here.
Authorities said the fire broke out March 9 at about 10 p.m. at the restaurant on Route 9. Berkeley Township police and fire crews arrived to find heavy flames, and part of the structure later collapsed.
An investigation by the Ocean County Prosecutor’s Office Major Crime Unit-Arson Squad, Berkeley Township police, the Ocean County Fire Marshal’s Office, the Berkeley Township Division of Fire Prevention and the Ocean County Sheriff’s Office Crime Scene Investigations Unit found the blaze started in the kitchen area along the north wall. Officials ruled the fire accidental.
Ocean County Prosecutor Bradley D. Billhimer said the investigation involved a coordinated effort among multiple agencies.
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