Cops say fire that destroyed Glenville cafe is suspicious

A fire that destroyed a Glenville cafe in October was ruled suspicious, and one of the former restaurant’s managers wants people to know that the culprit may pose a threat to other area establishments.

Glenville police, however, say the fire was isolated and don’t think the general public should be concerned.

The state Office of Fire Prevention and Control recently ruled the fire suspicious after finding two points of origin for the blaze that started in the early morning hours of Oct. 10 at Creekside Cafe, town police said. The remains of the building, which was deemed a total loss, were torn down earlier this month.

“We don’t know of anybody that would have had a grudge against us,” said Jeff Ogle, whose father, Fred Ogle, owned the cafe on Saratoga Road just south of the Burnt Hills line and who managed the restaurant with his wife and sister. “It could be anything from competition to a robbery that went bad and they decided to cover their tracks, or I guess maybe an arsonist — somebody who’s just setting fires.”

He added, “We’re concerned about other businesses in the area. We feel like this story should be told.”

Ogle, of Clifton Park, said his insurance company’s fire investigator told him the day after the business burned down that the fire was intentionally set based on the knowledge that it started in two places on opposite corners of the building— in the dining area and in the upstairs office.

Because a suspect has not been identified, the fire is not being called an arson, however, Glenville police Detective Justin Bolle said.

“All the evidence leads us to believe that, yes, this was started physically by someone,” Bolle said. “We don’t have any proof to back that.”

He said it’s hard to believe a fire with two points of origin could have started accidentally.

“Stranger things have happened, but it’s very unlikely,” he said.

Ogle said he reached out to Glenville police asking them to notify the media of a potential arsonist who may be targeting businesses. Detective Steve Janik, the department’s public information officer, said he didn’t think that was necessary, however, especially considering that no other town businesses have been targeted since.

“I don’t see the need to now put out a press release long after the fire has occurred to say to other business owners in the town that you’ve got an arsonist going around,” he said. “So far, this is isolated.”

Ogle said his family has not decided whether to rebuild the business, which he said was “making a little bit of money, not a lot.” Had the business been more established, he said it would be a no-brainer to rebuild.

“We’re not sure yet,” he said. “We’re still dealing with the insurance company.”

He added, “I would imagine there would be something built there, but it might not be Creekside Cafe again.”

Ogle said the building, which was built in 1930 and housed various establishments over the years, held memories for many, and he didn’t want people to think the fire resulted from his family’s carelessness. Ogle’s father bought the building for about $100,000 in 2011 and opened the café in March 2012 after investing more than $200,000 in renovations. Before then, it was Jan’s Roadhouse.

“We’ve been cleared as the owners and policy holders, and I want people to know that it wasn’t something careless like somebody left something on,” Jeff Ogle said.

He said the cafe was the family’s venture — one they hoped to one day turn over to their children — and no one in his family would have had any reason to burn it down. He said it’s been difficult coming to terms with the thought that someone would set fire to a building that was like a second home for his daughters, ages 11 and 13.

“Who would do this?” he asked.

Categories: News, Schenectady County