CAPITOLA — A predawn fire Monday in Capitola severely damaged at least two businesses, but the blaze was put out without any injuries reported.
First responders with the Central Fire District were called at 3 a.m. to 820 Bay Ave. after local residents spotted smoke and flames rising from a business complex in the vicinity. By the time crews arrived at the scene, the first and second floors of a building in the complex were already consumed in flames and the first responders put in an immediate call for support from other local fire agencies.
“Due to their quick actions they were able to contain (the fire) and it didn’t spread too far,” Capitola police Capt. Pedro Zamora told the Sentinel at the scene of the incident. “The cause is still undetermined.”
An aerial view on Monday shows the charred second story of the building that housed Sushi Garden restaurant in Capitola. (Shmuel Thaler – Santa Cruz Sentinel)
The family that owns Sushi Garden takes in the damage caused by Monday’s blaze. (Shmuel Thaler – Santa Cruz Sentinel)
The interior of Sushi Garden, the Capitola restaurant that was destroyed in an early morning fire on Monday. (Shmuel Thaler – Santa Cruz Sentinel)
Sushi Garden is red tagged by the Capitola Building Department after Monday’s fire. (Shmuel Thaler – Santa Cruz Sentinel)
Central Fire Captain Jack Kokot confers on Monday with the family that owns Sushi Garden as authorities investigate the blaze. (Shmuel Thaler – Santa Cruz Sentinel)
The interior of Sushi Garden after it was destroyed by a fire on Monday. (Shmuel Thaler – Santa Cruz Sentinel)
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An aerial view on Monday shows the charred second story of the building that housed Sushi Garden restaurant in Capitola. (Shmuel Thaler – Santa Cruz Sentinel)
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After the fire was extinguished Monday morning, Zamora explained that a dental office on the top floor of the impacted building collapsed into a Japanese restaurant called Sushi Garden. Both units experienced extreme damage and were red tagged, said Zamora, while some surrounding buildings suffered smoke damage and were yellow tagged, meaning the business owners still had limited access.
Maintenance and construction crews were called to the incident to check on the status of several koi fish in a pond just outside of the restaurant, but the carbon generated by smoke from the fire proved toxic and none were found alive.
In addition to the restaurant and dental office, the complex itself is home to a variety of office spaces and is owned by Lomak Property Group. According to a representative from the group, Sushi Garden has operated out of that location for 21 years.
There are two more Sushi Garden locations in Aptos and Watsonville, according to the restaurant’s website.
In all, nine units from Central Fire responded to the incident with mutual aid assistance provided by fire crews with the cities of Santa Cruz and Watsonville along with Scotts Valley and Ben Lomond fire protection districts.
Other responding agencies included Capitola Police Department, Santa Cruz County Sheriff’s Office and utility provider Pacific Gas and Electric.
Originally Published: July 28, 2025 at 8:58 AM PDT