What to Know
- A three-story rowhome that contained Key Food Pizza place and at least one apartment collapsed Wednesday moring.
- A neighbor shared a photo of a cloud of dust moments after the collapse at East York and Memphis streets.
- No injuries were reported.
A rowhome that housed a longtime pizza shop collapsed in a cloud of dust at a Philadelphia street corner Wednesday morning sending debris onto two streets.
The collapse happened around 9:45 a.m. at East York and Memphis streets, a Philadelphia Fire Department spokesperson said. Neighbors and local businesses call the area Fishtown.
Neighbor “Devonte” told NBC10’s Miguel Martinez-Valle that he was driving down York when he heard rumbling and saw a dust cloud coming toward his car.
Firefighters arrived to find the three-story building “completely collapsed,” the fire department spokesperson said.
As SkyForce10 hovered overhead, your could see bricks, dirt and debris all over the ground with firefighters and police officers on the scene. Firefighters could be seen sifting through the debris.
Key Food Pizza has operated from the corner property for many years, owner Stefano said.
Philadelphia police and the fire department said the ground-floor business was closed at the time of the collapse and that there was an apartment on top of it. No one was hurt.
“We’re Fishtown proud,” the devastated building owner said. He said his parents started the business. “I’m very sad for my family.”
He said that had the collapse happened just 30 minutes, or so, later that a worker could have been inside preparing pizza ahead of the business opening at 11 a.m.
The owner said there has been a lot of recent construction nearby.
At least six fire engines and city Licenses and Inspections responded to the scene, police said.
The location is right across the street from Tina’s Tacos.
A backhoe was brought in to remove some of the debris around 11:30 a.m. Crews were also moved back due to the smell of gas in the area.
The cause of the collapse remained under investigation.
Read More: Rowhome Containing Pizza Place Collapses in a Cloud of Dust at Philly Street Corner