The Incident and Initial Response

According to 6ABC News, around 2 am. the Philadelphia Police Department received a 911 call reporting a small fire at the location formerly known as Ace of Steaks on the 3000 block of South Broad Street. Firefighters swiftly arrived at the scene and managed to extinguish the flames promptly.

However upon further inspection police made a disturbing discovery – multiple Molotov cocktails were found inside the premises, prompting suspicions of an intentional arson attack.

The Merlino Connection

Joey Merlino, a name synonymous with organized crime in Philadelphia, recently announced plans to open a new cheesesteak establishment called Skinny Joey’s Cheesesteaks – a nod to his infamous nickname. Merlino’s involvement as a co-owner of the targeted restaurant has undoubtedly raised eyebrows within law enforcement circles.

J.J. Klaver a former FBI agent who worked in Philadelphia emphasized the significance of this incident, stating “Certainly this raises questions and I think it’s going to raise the interest of law enforcement in Philly, including the FBI.”

A Notorious Past

In the 1990s the FBI alleged that Merlino had unseated the then-reputed boss John Stanfa in a power struggle within the Philadelphia crime family. Klaver described that period as a “war” for agents working on organized crime cases in the city.

After multiple stints in prison for convictions ranging from racketeering to extortion and bookmaking, Merlino is now a free man splitting his time between Philadelphia and Florida. Ironically, he has found recent success with a podcast called ‘The Skinny with Joe Merlino’.

Investigation Underway

While the extent of the damage to the cheesesteak shop appears to be minor, the presence of Molotov cocktails has raised serious concerns. Authorities have not revealed any suspects or potential motives for the arson attack and the lack of surveillance cameras in the vicinity may pose challenges in the investigation.

Merlino and his legal team have chosen to remain tight-lipped about the incident, declining to comment when approached by Action News. I sincerely hope you find this “Arson Scare at Philadelphia Cheesesteak Shop Co-Owned by Former Reputed Mob Boss-Find Out Details” article helpful.

Skylar Lacey

Skylar Lacey, a Travel and Tourism Management graduate from Temple University, offers 5 years of experience in travel writing and airport logistics at PhiladelphiaAirport.net. Her expertise helps travelers make the most of their journeys through Philadelphia International Airport. Connect with her on Instagram for more travel tips and insights.

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