The diner, one of a handful built by the Paterson Vehicle Co., was listed on both the state and national registers of historic places.
CAMDEN -- A Cedarville couple was sentenced Monday for torching their historic diner in what court documents say was an attempt to collect insurance money.
Andrew Webster, 50, and his wife Brenda, 46, previously had each pleaded guilty before U.S. District Judge Robert B. Kugler in Camden to a charge of conspiracy to commit arson.
Kugler sentenced Andrew Webster to 20 months in prison. Brenda Webster was sentenced to three years of probation, including six months of home confinement with electronic monitoring, the U.S Attorney's Office said.
Prosecutors say the Websters, who purchased Angie's Bridgeton Grill in March 2012, decided to destroy the diner after several months of poor financial performance.
That October, the couple set the building ablaze using newspapers and menus doused in gasoline, according to prosecutors. Brenda Webster suffered burn injuries when gas vapors inside the diner ignited, court documents state.
Located on Broad Street along the Cohansey River in downtown Bridgeton, the eatery was a city landmark.
The diner, built in 1939, was one of a handful of Silk City diners built by the Paterson Vehicle Co., and was listed on both the State and National Registers of Historic Places.
Andrew Webster contacted his insurance company immediately after the fire, but never completed the claims process, according to court documents.
In addition to the prison term, Kugler sentenced Andrew Webster to serve three years of supervised release.
Both defendants are also responsible for restitution of $36,704.49, the U.S. Attorney's Office said.
Thomas Moriarty may be reached at tmoriarty@njadvancemedia.com. Follow him on Twitter at @ThomasDMoriarty. Find NJ.com on Facebook.