Restaurant owners plan to rebuild after fire

July 30--AMBRIDGE -- As workers demolished the building Tuesday, Martin Costanza stood before the remains of the restaurant he and his wife bought in May.

And he vowed his Ambridge eatery, Rooks Cantina 505, will return, and it will better than ever.

The restaurant/sports bar, which was once owned by Pittsburgh Pirates pitcher Jim Rooker, was gutted in an early morning fire. The business, formerly known as Rook's East Side Saloon, was reported on fire about 1 a.m.July 2. It was destroyed, along with some apartments above the Fourth Street business.

No one was in the apartments, and no one was injured in the blaze. Costanza said all the sports memorabilia in the bar was destroyed. He had just added a football signed by the late Chuck Noll to his collection inside.

Now he is focusing on rebuilding the business. While Unis Demolition tears down the two buildings Costanza owns, he's thinking of how to bring something new to Ambridge.

"(I want to build) something different that Ambridge hasn't seen yet," he said.

Costanza plans to build a single-level restaurant, possibly with a rooftop lounge. But he wants to keep the spirit of Rooks alive and plans to keep a similar menu that incorporates classic Rooks food with a Mexican twist.

Costanza's wife, Denise Romero, created the menu and cooks the food.

The couple was invited to participate in the Ambridge Eagle's wing cook-off Sunday. Even though they'll be grilling just down the street from the site of their restaurant, Costanza is excited to get back to cooking for the Ambridge community.

"We're just thrilled to be there," he said. "But it will be bittersweet cooking in front of the building."

Costanza, who was born and raised in Ambridge, said there is no question about his reopening in the area. The couple had insurance, but Costanza thinks that money won't cover more than the cost of demolition.

"It may take a while, but we'll definitely find a way," he said, expecting the demolition to last a few weeks.

Costanza said he and his wife were inspired to rebuild by an outpouring of support from the community. They both received calls, text messages and emails encouraging them to reopen after the fire.

There were nine unfinished and unoccupied apartments above the bar. The couple doesn't plan to rebuild any apartments.

Several fire departments responded to the fire.

"When we got here, there were just flames coming out through the second floor and the back of the building," borough fire Chief David Drewnowski said, adding that the fire originated on the second floor.

The fire did not spread from the building, Drewnowski said, but he suspected some of the neighboring building might have had some smoke damage.

Costanza said he was told the fire was ruled undetermined, but state police said a ruling hasn't been made and the fire is still under investigation.

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