Ferraros Family Begins to Rebuild

Part of Elm Street was blocked for construction vehicles Wednesday, as the owners of  took their first steps toward rebuilding the landmark restaurant, destroyed in a May 5.

Crews started to remove debris from the site so that insurance adjusters could access the restaurant, assess the damage and ensure the area was safe for workers to enter, said  Giuseppe DiPietro, a chef at the restaurant and a member of the Ferraro family. Investigators have determined that the blaze was electrical.

“We are trying to move as quickly as possible,” DiPietro said. “The first step is to get the place cleaned up." He added that he and his wife, Lina Ferraro, have met with both town officials and architects, but have not yet hired any contractors.

Since the fire, which county investigators determined was electrical, DiPietro and other employees have been working at Ferraro's South, located on South Avenue in Westfield, which is serving the restaurant's full menu via take-out and delivery.

Before the fire, the location was mainly used for catering, but the Ferraro family is considering keeping the restaurant's delivery and take-out operations at the South Avenue site permanently.

“The feedback we’ve been getting is that they like it better,” DiPietro said. "It’s easier to pick up because of the parking lot. We’re thinking of leaving it here for good.”