Firefighters from as far as Salinas assist Greenfield Fire Department with extinguishing the Feb. 9 blaze at California Gourmet Pizza on Walnut Avenue. (Greenfield Police Department)

GREENFIELD — An early morning fire that completely engulfed California Gourmet Pizza in Greenfield last week remains under investigation.

The restaurant building, located on the 500 block of Walnut Avenue, suffered major structural damage in the fire, which began shortly after midnight on Feb. 9. Firefighters from as far as Salinas responded and assisted Greenfield Fire Department with extinguishing the blaze.

“When emergency personnel arrived, the entire structure was engulfed in flames,” said Greenfield Police, which is investigating the incident along with fire investigators.

Crews were able to control the fire by 4 a.m., but the building’s roof was destroyed. No one was injured in the incident.

Multiple police and fire agencies respond to last Wednesday’s fire at California Gourmet Pizza in Greenfield. (Greenfield Police Department)

The popular pizza joint has been a local favorite for many years. In 1979, when Santa Lucia Square Shopping Center opened, it was known as Round Table Pizza. The restaurant later became Cheezer’s Gourmet Pizza before most recently turning into California Gourmet Pizza.

“One of our true gems in Greenfield is no more,” said Mayor Lance Walker on social media. “Let’s hope it’s reopened in the near future.”

Ironically, the fire started on a day marked as National Pizza Day.

The cause of the fire is still unknown at this time. Anyone with information about the incident is asked to contact Greenfield Police Investigator David Doglietto at 831-774-3526 or Sgt. Justin Mattke at 831-233-1302.

Fire agencies from Pine Canyon, Gonzales and Salinas fire departments, Cal Fire BEU and Monterey County Regional Fire Department provided assistance.

A Salinas firefighter and a Greenfield Police officer respond to the fire at California Gourmet Pizza in Greenfield on Feb. 9. (Greenfield Police Department)
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Ryan Cronk is the managing editor for King City Rustler and Salinas Valley Tribune, a unified publication of Greenfield News, Soledad Bee and Gonzales Tribune. He covers general news for South Monterey County and the surrounding communities.

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