Fire destroyed the Sweetwater Casino, an iconic riverside restaurant and a linchpin of the township's sparse business community, early Monday morning.

The cause is unknown, but lightning from an overnight storm is a suspect, said Chief Gary Franklin of the Sweetwater Volunteer Fire Department. Residents of nearby houses off Seventh Avenue heard a tremendous thunder clap at about 2 a.m. The restaurant's fire alarm activated about 4:15 a.m.

The fire had consumed the whole building and had broken through the roof by the time firefighters from several township companies arrived minutes later, Franklin said. Co-owner Joseph Cavalieri said nothing inside could be saved.

A message from Cathy Egan, Banquet Manager at the Sweetwater Casino:

Click here and listen to Marc's interview with manager Cathy Egan

If anyone has a wedding or banquet booked with us we are working on options for you. Please contact me at sweetwatercasino@aol.com. We also have many employees that need jobs!!  Hopefully Sweetwater will rebuild soon and we will all be together again. Thanks so much for your concern, we really appreciate all SoJO is doing. Cathy