HOW TO HELP: Matunuck Oyster Bar fundraisers »

SOUTH KINGSTOWN, R.I. (WPRI) — Joe Scrofani was sound asleep when his dog Salty woke him up early Tuesday morning.

Scrofani never imagined that he would walk out onto his back deck and see the Matunuck Oyster Bar fully engulfed in flames.

"I was like, 'Oh my God, I can't believe this is happening,'" Scrofani recalled. "It was almost like a bad dream."

"It's just so sad," he continued. "It's a staple in this state."

Scrofani is far from alone.

Rhode Islanders and tourists alike were stunned to wake up Tuesday morning and learn the beloved South Kingstown mainstay had been destroyed by fire.

Mary Beth Mackay told 12 News her family has celebrated countless milestones at the restaurant over the years.

"From marriages to pregnancies to new babies," Mackay said. "The staff that works here is amazing and the seating is always enough to fit our family as it grows."

"It meant everything," she added, referring to the oyster bar.

The restaurant has been around since 2009, with many employees working there and at its popular oyster farm. Every summer, it draws in thousands of seafood lovers from across the country.

Union Fire District of South Kingstown Chief Steven Pinch described the oyster bar as being "a fixture in town."

"It's our family's go-to spot whenever anyone comes into town, for sure," Pinch said.

"It's got the best seafood in Rhode Island," added Michael Larson, who frequents the oyster bar.

While other nearby seafood restaurants may disagree with Larson, those establishments were quick to lend a hand to oyster bar's owner and employees.

Midtown Oyster Bar expressed their condolences to Matunuck Oyster Bar.

"From one oyster bar to another, we're deeply saddened to hear about the fire at Matunuck Oyster Bar," Midtown Oyster Bar wrote in a social media post. "As fellow Rhode Islanders and lovers of oysters, we share not only the same home state, but the same passion for serving our local community."

The owner of Jimmy's Portside Restaurant offered his support to the oyster bar during this difficult time.

"Jimmy's is here to help in any way possible," owner James Petrella wrote on social media. "This is awful news, my heart breaks for them."

Finn's Harborside knows firsthand what the Matunuck Oyster Bar is going through. The East Greenwich restaurant remains closed indefinitely as it continues to rebuild from a fire that tore through the building more than a year ago.

"Having gone through a fire ourselves just last spring, our hearts go out to Matunuck Oyster Bar," Finn's Harborside said in a social media post. "We know how tough the road ahead can be and how strong the community is."

Boon Street Market provided free food and drinks to Matunuck Oyster Bar staff and first responders Tuesday morning. The Narragansett restaurant told 12 News it plans on hosting a fundraiser for the oyster bar sometime in the near future.

Bend Yoga Studio is in the midst of planning a fundraiser for the oyster bar's staff. It's currently slated for May 31 from noon to 9 p.m.

Caroline Keene, owner of Bend Yoga Studio, explained that she worked at the oyster bar for "six incredible years" before opening her own business.

"It wasn't just a job — it was a community," Keene said in a social media post. "This place supported me through some of the most important steps in my life, including the early stages of my journey as an entrepreneur."

"While the circumstances are devastating, I am honored to be in a position that allows me to help. It’s my turn to give back," she continued. "These are the people who show up every day with heart, dedication and so much passion — and they deserve all the support we can give."

(Story continues below.)

In a statement to 12 News, Matunuck Oyster Bar owner Perry Raso said he's grateful for the support he's received since the fire broke out.

"I'd like to extend a heartfelt thank you to our neighbors, patrons, partners, colleagues and friends from Rhode Island and beyond, who have reached out over the last several hours with selfless offers to help," Raso said. "We are humbled and grateful for what Matunuck Oyster Bar represents to so many people."

"While we are heartbroken that our doors will be temporarily closed, we are committed to opening them back up and welcoming guests back to our tables as soon as possible," he added.

Raso's first priority, however, is to assist the more than 300 full-time and seasonal employees, "whose service and dedication have made Matunuck Oyster Bar what it is today."

"We are working to explore the most efficient and most impactful avenues available in order to ensure that our staff receives assistance during this difficult time," he explained.

A GoFundMe page has been set up to raise money for all the affected employees.

Nicholas Waschevski, who's worked as a dishwasher at the oyster bar for nearly two years, told 12 News he's still trying to come to terms with what happened.

"This was home in a way," Waschevski said. "This was my family — my second family."

Waschevski stopped by the restaurant Tuesday evening to get a firsthand look at the aftermath.

"I was here only a few days ago," he said. "I'm used to seeing a full parking lot by now ... This just feels way different."

South Kingstown Town Manager James Manni, who lives only a few minutes away from the oyster bar, is now focused on getting Raso back on his feet.

"This is very raw right now for him," Manni said of Raso. "This is his life. He built this from the ground up. That's what makes this place so special."

"We've lived in this community for about 25 years, and no one had ever really heard of Matunuck," he added. "Nobody even knew how to pronounce it. [Raso] put us on the map."

The cause of the fire remains under investigation at this time, and it remains to be seen whether the building is a total loss.

This comes less than a month after TwoTen Oyster Bar & Grill opened back up following a fire that damaged the restaurant last summer.

Download the WPRI 12 and Pinpoint Weather 12 apps to get breaking news and weather alerts.

Watch 12 News Now on WPRI.com or with the new 12+ smart TV app.