Cortaditos Owner Says No One Hurt in North Bergen Fire, Vows to Reopen

The owner of Cortaditos, the Cuban restaurant on Bergenline Avenue in North Bergen, said no one was injured in a fire that severely damaged the business Friday night, and that the shop plans to reopen.

Owner Adam San Miguel told HudPost the fire broke out around 10 p.m. on Friday, July 10, 2026, at the 77th Street location. No employees were inside at the time, and tenants living upstairs got out safely.

“None of our employees were here, so everyone’s safe. The renters upstairs thankfully got out, no one was harmed, everyone’s safe,” San Miguel said. “But our store is severely damaged, so we’re out of commission for a little bit.”

The cause remains under investigation. San Miguel said the kitchen was not affected and that early reports point to the front of the store, though nothing has been confirmed.

San Miguel thanked North Hudson Regional Fire and Rescue and the North Bergen Police Department for their response, along with the community for its support.

He said his first priority is his staff. “Our priority is to take care of our people, make sure that everyone that works here has a way to pay their bills, take care of themselves,” San Miguel said. “Once we get back up and running, we’re going to let the community know, and you guys can come out and see the new Cortaditos in North Bergen.”

The business has since launched a GoFundMe campaign to support the family that lived in the apartment above the restaurant, who were displaced by the fire. According to the fundraiser, which describes the blaze as an electrical fire, the funds will go toward temporary housing and daily living expenses such as food and transportation while the family waits for insurance support.

“Cortaditos is committed to making sure the people who are part of our community know they can always count on us, especially in times of crisis,” the fundraiser reads. “At Cortaditos, our people and community always come first.”

The investigation into the fire remains ongoing.