“We got up and went to the scene and saw it was involved completely (by fire). There was pretty much no saving anything,” Paige Oyer told The Post-Journal of the blaze that destroyed Homestead Cafe & Catering early Sunday. Oyer and her husband purchased the 3062 Route 430 property in 2019.

Firefighters were alerted to the blaze around 2:15 a.m. Photographs posted by the Oyers and several fire departments showed the property completely engulfed by flames; the property was largely reduced to ashes.

No injuries were reported.

Oyer, who has worked in the hospitality business most of her life, said she and her husband were notified of the fire by phone call and rushed to the scene. “We were home in bed sleeping,” she said. “I guess we were just shocked when we got there.”

Firefighters are pictured Sunday at Homestead Cafe & Catering in the town of Ellery. The property, home to a catering business, was destroyed when fire broke out around 2:15 a.m. Photo by Homestead Cafe & Catering

In a message posted to Facebook, the Fluvanna Fire Department said officials arrived to find flames showing in the front, right and rear of the building. Firefighters from Gerry, Bemus Point, Ellery Center, Sinclairville, Ashville, Maple Springs, Kennedy, Chautauqua and Dewittville assisted, along with Chautauqua County EMS, the town of Ellery, county fire police and county Emergency Services.

Following their purchase, Oyer said they undertook a “total renovation” of the building, including in the kitchen and dining room. “We re-did everything,” she said. “To accumulate all of that, the equipment and assets, and to lose it is difficult.”

Oyer said she and her husband plan to weigh their options to “figure out a way to continue catering for the year.” She noted a “full schedule” with catering jobs booked through November and into 2023. All of the cooking was done at the Route 430 location, so a temporary spot is being sought to honor existing catering jobs.

Before COVID-19, the Oyers also ran a cafe with food served to the public, though following the pandemic they stuck to catering full-time.

In a message on Facebook and reiterated Monday, Oyer thanked all the first responders who helped as well as those from the community. “Lots of people offered support, business-wise and personally,” she said. “We have a daughter that goes to Bemus Point and people have offered to help with anything.”

She added, “We appreciate everyone’s support.”

Members of the Chautauqua County Fire Investigation Team were looking into the blaze. The cause of the fire has not been determined.

“Due to the extensive damage, we are relying on early photos (and) interviews of first responders,” said Chautauqua County Undersheriff Rich Telford.