the staff of the Ridgewood blog
Paramus NJ, the former site of the iconic Fireplace restaurant along Route 17 will soon be replaced by a Chick-fil-A, with an expected opening in the first week of May, as confirmed by Paramus Mayor Chris DiPiazza on Wednesday afternoon. This addition adds to Chick-fil-A’s presence in New Jersey, where it already operates 61 locations out of over 3,000 nationwide.
The Fireplace, originally opened in 1956 by World War II veteran Frank Reilly, closed its doors in 2021 after 65 years of operation. The decision to close came as the owners found it increasingly challenging to cover the restaurant’s operational costs.
Renowned for its thin-sliced steak sandwiches, juicy burgers, and nostalgic ’50s ambiance, The Fireplace held a special place in the hearts of its patrons. Last September, the restaurant was officially torn down, marking the end of an era as long-time customers watched on, reminiscing about fond memories.
In a heartfelt gesture, bricks salvaged from the building were later sold to the public, with proceeds benefiting the Paramus Food Pantry and NJ SOS Stakeholders, an organization dedicated to supporting U.S. veterans in need. Each $100 brick sold contributed to these charitable causes, allowing the community to honor the legacy of The Fireplace while giving back to those in need.
Sacrilege
Sacrilicious.
Still miss those fireplace cheeseburgers and onion rings!
And fries with gravy !
258 ingredients in a chick fila chicken sandwich. Yum
Loved the Fireplace 50 years ago. Great for a quick dinner with kids. The food was actually good.
Hot dogs
The memory of the Fireplace will be long forgotten when sports parents can feed their kids quickly and easily from the new drive-thru windows.