The general manager of the Belford Seafood Co-op says the business is doing all that it can to stay open following a fire that destroyed the second floor.

The fire on Port Monmouth Road over Memorial Day weekend destroyed the co-op's ice machines, but did not damage the main building. The retail market is still open for business, and local fishermen are still bringing in their catches.

General manager Joe Branin tells News 12 New Jersey that the co-op has been shipping in ice from several vendors, including ones in Atlantic Highlands and Newark. This is so they can keep the thousands of pound of fish that are brought in from spoiling. 

Branin says that it is inconvenient and cuts into the co-ops profits. The co-op used to make its own ice before the fire.

The damaged portion of the building is expected to be torn down this week. There are plans to rebuild.

The co-op also is planning on buying new ice makers, but Branin says that it will be at least six months before those are up and running.