5-Alarm blaze at O’Neill’s

A five-alarm fire engulfed longtime Maspeth landmark O’Neill’s Restaurant in the early morning hours of Monday, May 2.
The call came in just after midnight of a fire at 64-21 53rd Drive and minutes later firefighters arrived at the scene to find heavy fire. The fifth alarm came after 3 a.m. for relief purposes and the fire was under control at 3:23 a.m.
Forty-four units and over 200 firefighters responded to the scene. Four firefighters were taken to Elmhurst Hospital with minor injuries.
The FDNY said that the blaze stemmed from a grease fire in the basement.
O’Neill’s Restaurant has been a Maspeth fixture since 1928 when it was known as Plateau Tavern.
“The outpouring of support has been amazing,” said Tara O’Neill-Pyle, whose husband Danny and father George own the bar, which has been in the family for three generations.
The destruction has not only affected members of the community but also politicians.
“O’Neill’s Restaurant has been a staple in Maspeth,” said Councilmember Elizabeth Crowley. “Last night’s tragic fire was a loss for the whole community.”
“People are going to miss O’Neill’s,” said Gary Giordano, district manager of Community Board 5. “So many people have had there communion or confirmation parties there.”
Mother’s Day has traditionally been one of the biggest holidays at the bar and the restaurant was trying to find other locations to host upcoming parties that had been planned for the establishment.
“It is my intention, and that of my office staff, to offer our assistance to repair and re-open O’Neill’s as soon as possible in order to restore this historic restaurant and bar,” said State Senator Joe Addabbo. “I am hopeful that this popular Maspeth icon will be up and running in the very near future.”
O’Neill-Pyle wanted to reassure the loyal customers that this was indeed the plan.
“We will start rebuilding as soon as we can,” she said.
“This is a landmark in Maspeth,” O’Neill-Pyle said. “And it will remain one.”