When a tobacco shop opened next door, a Melbourne couple’s dream cafe went up in smoke: ‘It felt like a warzone’
News Source
•Wed, 14 Oct 2026 14:00:04 GMT
📰 What Happened
A Melbourne couple opened their dream vegan cafe just months ago. Ashish Sharma and Manali Purohit spent five months fitting out And Bodega in North Fitzroy. They used most of their life savings and did much of the work themselves. The cafe opened in July.
Early on Monday 12 October, a fire badly damaged the cafe. The blaze started in a tobacco shop next door that had opened only weeks before. Police believe the fire was deliberately lit. It is the latest in a long run of firebombings aimed at Melbourne tobacconists.
🔍 The Backstory
Hundreds of tobacconists across Melbourne have been firebombed since late 2023. Police think rival groups are fighting over the illegal tobacco trade. Arsonists have also attacked nearby restaurants and small businesses by mistake. Many owners are left with huge bills and no income.
Burning a shop can also hurt innocent neighbours. The couple's cafe had only been trading for three months. They say the scene felt like a war zone. They now face a long road to rebuild what they lost.
🎯 Why It Matters
Small business owners can lose everything through no fault of their own. This shows how a hidden trade war on tobacco can harm everyday families. Insurance and safety matter for anyone who runs a shop.
A Melbourne couple opened their dream vegan cafe just months ago. Ashish Sharma and Manali Purohit spent five months fitting out And Bodega in North Fitzroy. They used most of their life savings and did much of the work themselves. The cafe opened in July.
Early on Monday 12 October, a fire badly damaged the cafe. The blaze started in a tobacco shop next door that had opened only weeks before. Police believe the fire was deliberately lit. It is the latest in a long run of firebombings aimed at Melbourne tobacconists.
Hundreds of tobacconists across Melbourne have been firebombed since late 2023. Police think rival groups are fighting over the illegal tobacco trade. Arsonists have also attacked nearby restaurants and small businesses by mistake. Many owners are left with huge bills and no income.
Burning a shop can also hurt innocent neighbours. The couple's cafe had only been trading for three months. They say the scene felt like a war zone. They now face a long road to rebuild what they lost.
Small business owners can lose everything through no fault of their own. This shows how a hidden trade war on tobacco can harm everyday families. Insurance and safety matter for anyone who runs a shop.