AVON - A pre-dawn fire on Saturday left Schneider's Restaurant on Main Street a charcoal mess.

Around 8:30 a.m. Saturday, as emergency response teams sorted through the still smoldering wood structure, spectators stood on the sidewalk in front of the restaurant and watched in disbelief.

"It's been part of the town for a long time. The food was very good. Generations of families ate at this place," said Kelly Hagerman, 50, of Avon.

Schneider's, at 801 Main St., has been a staple of the community for nearly five decades, serving German food and homemade ice cream.

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The restaurant is owned by Johann and Beverly Schneider. The family-run business was started in Newark in the 1960s before the family moved it to Avon in 1970, according to the business' website.

The Schneider family could not be reached for comment on Saturday.

Officials received the first emergency call for the blaze around 4:30 a.m.

The cause of the fire was under investigation Saturday, according to Avon police. The Monmouth County Fire Marshal's office was at the scene Saturday.

No one was injured in the blaze or in the response, officials said.

Dan Radel: 732-643-4072; dradel@gannettnj.com