A Bronx diner owner and the man he allegedly paid to set his establishment on fire last month have been arrested and now face arson and other charges, according to fire officials.

Mohammed Abdul Quadir, 52, the owner of the American Diner on Bainbridge Avenue in Norwood, was arrested by fire marshals on Friday.

Christopher Gooding, 53, was arrested on Thursday.

Both men are charged with arson, reckless endangerment and criminal mischief.

Investigators say Quadir, who bought the diner three years ago, was heavily in debt and looked to cash in on his $500,000 insurance policy on the restaurant. He is accused of paying Gooding $2,000 to light the diner on fire.

The five-alarm fire broke out early on the morning of December 21 and burned down the restaurant and more than a dozen nearby businesses, including a dentist's office and a newly-renovated supermarket. It took nearly 200 firefighters to put out the blaze.

Fire officials say surveillance video and several other leads led investigators to the suspects.

Quadir has no prior arrests, but Gooding was previously arrested and charged with burglary and assault charges.

Investigators were determining Saturday how Quadir and Gooding know each other.

Fires also took place in the immediate area last April and October, but investigators believe that Quadir and Gooding were not involved.