May 6th update: We’re incredibly grateful for the outpouring of support! While the original goal has been met, the restaurant’s reopening has been delayed longer than expected, and continued generosity means the world to the hardworking staff still waiting to return.
Help Rebuild Martin’s Restaurant & Support Its Dedicated Staff
On the night of March 10, 2025, a devastating fire broke out in the kitchen of Martin’s Restaurant in Abington, MA. Fred Villa, the owner, was alerted by his niece, who lives above the restaurant and noticed a strong burning smell. When Fred arrived, he found the entire restaurant engulfed in thick black smoke. Despite the danger, he rushed inside blindly after calling 911, searched for a fire extinguisher and battled the flames before emergency responders arrived.
The good news? Fred’s quick action prevented a total loss. The bad news? The restaurant has suffered severe smoke damage and must be completely gutted, brought up to code, and rebuilt before it can reopen.
For 80 years, Martin’s Restaurant has been more than just a place to eat—it’s been a cornerstone of the Abington community. Fred’s generosity is well known, especially among our Veterans. In 2022, when asked to host a small, monthly Veterans Breakfast, he didn’t just agree—he went all in. He shut down half his restaurant to serve more Veterans and expanded the event to provide free meals for Veterans and their spouses all day long. Since then, Martin’s has served nearly 3,000 free meals to Veterans from 24 different towns across Massachusetts. April 2, 2025, would've been the 3-year anniversary of the free Veterans breakfast at Martin's.
Now, after this unexpected disaster, Fred and his son Jason weren't looking for help for themselves or even for their restaurant—their only concern was for their staff. Many have been with them for nearly two decades, and with the restaurant expected to be closed for two months, they face a difficult financial road ahead. Unfortunately, unemployment benefits will provide little, if anything, for some of them.
The goal is to raise $27,874 —the total payroll for two months—to ensure these hardworking employees can stay afloat while Martin’s gets back on its feet. They've given so much to this community and countless others. Now, it’s our turn to give back. Together, we can help Martin’s and its incredible team rise from the ashes. From the bottom of my heart, thank you for your consideration of support. Every donation, no matter the size, helps ensure that when the doors reopen, the same familiar, welcoming faces will be there to greet us once again!
Please consider donating today and be part of the Martin’s Restaurant recovery story.
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** Note: Spotfund does not charge a platform fee, but it does charge a standard payment processing fees of 2.9% + $0.30 for credit card payments (that will be automatically deducted from your donation).
If you would prefer to mail a check you may send it to
Adam Gunn
PO BOX 2150
Abington, MA 02351
PLEASE ENSURE checks are made out to "J & P Restaurant Corp" as Martin's Restaurant will them cash directly.
