Courier-Post

A favorite South Jersey neighborhood spot is no more.

Fire destroyed Westmont's Crystal Lake Diner late Sunday night. Firefighters from several communities responded to the blaze, which took more than two hours to bring under control.

The fire began just before 11 p.m. and tore through the roof of the building, according to police-scanner reports. No injuries were reported. The Camden County Fire Marshal's office is investigating the blaze, which appears to have started in the basement area.

When it was all over, the Crystal Lake Diner -- which stood on Cuthbert Boulevard for nearly a quarter-century – was gutted.

The Exadaktilos family has owned and run the diner since its start; like many diners, it was known for its homemade comfort foods.

In January 2013, Marianne Exadaktilos, the owner's daughter, talked about customers' favorite dish – the chicken croquettes with mashed potatoes.

"Everybody loves it," she said. "It's old-fashioned and they are homemade."