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Read the press release here.

Flea Market Cafe Fire Was Arson, Police Say

EAST VILLAGE — A fire that broke out inside a popular Avenue A restaurant Monday afternoon has been classified as arson, police said.

"A complaint has been filed with the NYPD for arson at 131 Avenue A (Flea Market Cafe). The fire was deemed incendiary by the FDNY Fire Marshals," the NYPD said in a statement.

The small blaze at the Flea Market Café near the corner of St. Mark's Place started just after 1:20 p.m. and was brought under control less than 30 minutes later, the FDNY said.

No arrests have been made and the investigation is ongoing. An FDNY would not comment on the cause of the fire.

Detectives at the scene Monday evening would not comment on the incident.

The café appeared virtually untouched a day after the blaze, with no apparant traces of the fire. The charred furniture and broken glass that covered the sidewalk Monday had been cleaned up, and a worker inside said the eatery could be open as early as Tuesday night.

No staff or owners were available for comment Tuesday.

A witness who was standing across the street when the fire started said he saw someone inside the restaurant at the time of the blaze, adding that the person bolted from the scene right after.

The witness also said he saw something smash through the front window glass from the inside.