House of Cupcakes, best known for winning the reality show "Cupcake Wars" is being sued by an insurance company over a 2014 fire
PRINCETON - The insurance company for a well-known Princeton bar is suing a nearby cupcake shop for $76,000 over damage from a 2014 fire that originated in the bakery.
The Alchemist and Barrister's insurance company is seeking $76,167 from the House of Cupcakes, claiming negligence by the cupcake maker in a fire that damaged the bar too, according to a lawsuit filed earlier this month in Mercer County.
Until 2014, both the Alchemist and Barrister and House of Cupcakes sat adjacent to each other on Witherspoon Street - in the heart of Princeton.
In March of that year, a fire that started in the basement of the bakery spread to six neighboring apartments, displacing 41 residents.
Authorities have said the fire was accidental and started when a co-owner of the bakery shut off the dryer mid-cycle - without the typical "cool down" period - and cotton towels in the dryer self-ignited.
The damage forced the bakery to shutter its doors for seven months and move down the street.
In its lawsuit, the insurance company for the Alchemist and Barrister claims the fire also had a devastating effect on the popular bar and restaurant.
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"The fire caused significant burn damages to the interior and exterior of the building," the suit said, before going on to mention the smoke and water damage it created throughout the restaurant.
The restaurant's property also has an apartment on the second floor, where its owner lives part time, the suit said. It did not say whether the apartment was damaged as well.
The insurance company claims the bakery did not keep a safe environment and that its negligence is to blame for the neighboring restaurant's damages, according to the lawsuit.
A representative for the insurance company did not immediately respond to a request for comment Wednesday.
Prior to the fire, House of Cupcakes rose to fame and became a sort-of tourist attraction after its owners competed on - and won - the popular reality cooking show, "Cupcake Wars."
The owners, husband and wife couple Ron and Ruth Bzdewka, who are not named in the lawsuit, won $10,000 in 2011 for competing on the show.
They decided to donate their winnings to St. Jude's Children's Hospital. The Bzdewkas did not immediately return a call for comment Wednesday.
Anna Merriman may be reached at amerriman@njadvancemedia.com. Follow her on Twitter @anna_merriman.