Famed NYC sommelier, 35, is charged with ARSON after 'setting two outdoor dining areas ablaze' in Little Italy

A celebrity sommelier was charged with two felony counts of arson after he was caught setting three fires around New York City beginning in January - including two in outdoor dining areas.

Caleb Ganzer, 35, was caught on security camera footage setting fire to the outdoor dining shed at Prince Street Pizza on July 13 around 3 am. 

The alleged arsonist is a noted wine expert, named one of Food & Wine's 2017 Sommeliers of the Year. He previously worked as the sommelier at New York's Eleven Madison Park, which some critics have called one of the world's best restaurants.

He's not accused of setting fire to any structures connected to La Compagnie des Vins Surnaturels, the restaurant where he's managing partner. 

Authorities haven't released a possible motive for the arsons. 

In one video, a man, later identified to be Ganzer, walks up to a wooden structure on the empty street. 

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Caleb Ganzer, 35, has been charged with two counts of Arson in the third degree, two counts of Criminal Mischief in the third degree, and three counts of Reckless Endangerment in the second degree 

The fires were all located in New York City's Little Italy neighborhood within a few blocks of each other and Ganzer's restaurant 

The popular NYC sommelier was caught on surveillance camera setting fire to an outdoor dining area 

Footage recorded as Ganzer casually walks up to the outdoor structure and lights the two napkin dispensers at each end 

He then casually walks away as the structure continues to burn 

After checking that he's alone, he nonchalantly pulls out a lighter and sets fire to a napkin dispenser. He then walks over and sets fire to the other napkin dispenser at the opposite end of the shed. 

The arsonist then casually continues walking down the street. 

Officials have also connected Ganzer to two other fires set earlier this year. On June 26, he allegedly started a trash fire at the corner of Broome and Centre Streets. 

The first fire was set back on January 8, when Ganzer set fire to the outdoor dining shed Forsythia restaurant on Stanton Street shortly before midnight.    

Fire officials announced on Wednesday that the sommelier Ganzer had been arrested and charged with two counts of Arson in the third degree, two counts of Criminal Mischief in the third degree, and three counts of Reckless Endangerment in the second degree. 

Forsythia's owner, Jacob Siwak, says the fires caused $3,500 in damages 

Ganzer is also being accused of setting fire to a trash bin at the intersection of Broome and Centre Streets 

Most recently, Ganzer allegedly set fire to the outdoor structure at Prince Street Pizza were he was recorded on surveillance cameras 

Tony Soza, 35, general manager of Prince Street Pizza, told DailyMail.com that he was very upset when he saw the footage of Ganzer setting fire to his store and learned that he is a fellow restauranteur. Soza says that the 'restaurant industry is a family and we need to help each other.'

He says that while the physical damage to the store was bad, the emotional damage to him and his workers was worse. 

He remembers spending three weeks in the cold of winter building the outdoor dining structure and says it was 'really painful to see my place burn up. I was feeling crazy but I don’t care about cost to repair. Money goes back and forth. It's not important.' 

The general manager wants Ganzer to think about the possible consequences of his dangerous actions and 'should thank God the fire didn’t cause more damage.' Prince Street Pizza sits below residential apartments whose tenants Soza was concerned about. 

Soza is happy that his neighbors are safe. When the fire broke out at 3 am several weeks ago he didn't call 911 or head down to the restaurant immediately because his neighborhood 'family' called him and told them that they had it under control.    

Ganzer set fire to the outdoor dining area of Prince Street Pizza on July 13 

He is also being connected to fires set at another nearby restaurant, Forsythia in Januray, and a trash fire in June 

Forsythia's owner, Jacob Siwak, 29, told the New York Times on Wednesday that a well-dressed man wearing a beanie and a scarf attempted to set fire to the Italian restaurant's outdoor structure ablaze four times over the course of at least nine days in January. 

Security-camera footage recorded as the man unpacked his backpack, placing a pile of kindling next to trash that had been out from the night before and then repeatedly set the kindling on fire. The man then waited for a sizable fire before walking off.

Several of the man's attempts were successful with two becoming 'pretty damaging.' Another resulted in flames that shot up two stories high and threatened to spread to the restaurant and the rest of the building. 

The fires caused Siwak $3,500 in damages as he had to rebuild the outdoor dining structure, which is now fire retardant. 

While no one was hurt by these fires, 'Every act of arson has the potential to spread rapidly, endangering the lives of New Yorkers and FDNY members,' said Fire Commissioner Daniel A. Nigro commenting on Ganzer's crimes.

'Thankfully in these incidents there were no injuries and the suspect has been apprehended before another fire could be set.' 

Men account for an estimated of 80% of arson cases, according to the FBI. Fire officials did not state what motive Ganzer might have had for starting the fires.  

The case will be prosecuted by the Manhattan District Attorney's Office. 

Ganzer is a managing partner at La Compagnie des Vins Surnaturels, located several blocks from the fires 

Ganzer is a managing partner at La Compagnie des Vins Surnaturels on Centre Street, which is located near where the fires were set. 

He didn't set fires there, officials have said. 

La Compagnie des Vins Surnaturels released a statement saying, 'We as the company are aware of the incident, and Mr. Ganzer is on a leave of absence.' 

The alleged arsonist was named as one of Food & Wine's 2017 Sommeliers of the Year and previously worked as the sommelier at Eleven Madison Park, which was been deemed one of the best restaurants in the world. 

They credited the Illinois native for creating 'a space where guests who aren't 'wine people' can drink stellar wines casually, by the glass. His background in fine dining comes through in his attentive service (rare in wine bars), while his more playful side comes out in regular wine-themed parties and Compagnie's 'guess-the-wine, win-a-bottle' game.'

In a recent interview with Sommelier Business, Mr. Ganzer spoke of investing in La Compagnie des Vins Surnaturels' outdoor dining space after what he called the 'roller coaster' of the pandemic, a period he described as 'sort of existentially crippling.'