South Philadelphia restaurant, apartments damaged in blaze

Firefighters battled a blaze that damaged Hawthornes Cafe and apartments above the restaurant in South Philadelphia this morning.

The fire broke out around 7 a.m. in the three-story building on the 700 block of South 11th Street.

The blaze appeared to be mainly on the upper floors or roof area of the building. Hawthornes Cafe -- a popular neighborhood bruncherie with a cozy fireplace and family-friendly seating -- is on the ground level. Apartment units make up the other floors.

No injuries have been reported.

It wasn't immediately clear what caused the blaze. It also wasn't immediately known how extensively the apartments or restaurant were damaged.

The Red Cross of Southeastern Pennsylvania said eight people in four families were displaced by the blaze and would be receiving help from Red Cross volunteers.

The Red Paw Emergency Relief Team was also called to the site to assist with pets.

Hawthornes Cafe is known for its takeout beer selection, as its refrigerator cases accommodate about 1,000 varieties from all over the world. Co-owner Chris Fetfatzes' family owns Bella Vista Beer Distributors down the block.