An Indian-origin couple’s cafe in Melbourne, Australia was severely damaged in a suspected arson attack targeting a neighbouring tobacco shop. Ashish Sharma and Manali Purohit had poured their life savings into And Bodega, a vegan cafe that they inaugurated in July. Last week, much of their cafe was destroyed in a firebombing attack.
The couple had spent over $100,000 and more than five months renovating the property in Melbourne’s Fitzroy North, buying some of the furniture second-hand.
“We opened And Bodega in July after 5 months of DIY renovations, an enormous amount of physical work, and pouring more than $100,000 of our life savings into creating the place we'd always dreamed of,” they said in a GoFundMe page created to raise money after the tragedy.
“We put in basically all our life savings. We did a lot of it DIY,” Ashish Sharma told The Guardian.
Cafe damaged in firebombing
On October 12, less than three months after the opening, Sharma and Purohit found their cafe damaged in a firebombing attack on a neighbouring tobacco shop.
According to The Guardian, this was the latest in a spate of firebombings targeting tobacco shops in Melbourne. Since 2023, hundreds of tobacco shops in the city have been hit in similar attacks.
{{/usCountry}}According to The Guardian, this was the latest in a spate of firebombings targeting tobacco shops in Melbourne. Since 2023, hundreds of tobacco shops in the city have been hit in similar attacks.
{{/usCountry}}The attack occurred at about 3.45am on Monday, October 12. Investigators believe that an offender or offenders broke into the tobacconist and set it alight. No arrests have been made so far.
The tobacco shop was completely destroyed, while And Bodega and other neighbouring businesses were damaged, police said in a statement.
Newlyweds Ashish Sharma and Manali Purohit described the aftermath of the attack as devastating. They said it turned their once-beautiful cafe into something resembling a “bomb site”, as per AAP News.
"There were these little canisters strewn all across our premise ... the severity and the ferociousness of these things ... it's terrorism," Sharma says.
“It felt like a warzone,” he added. “The roof had melted off – soot everywhere.”
Help pours in
Manali Purohit, a pastry chef from Mumbai, is very thankful for their love they have received since their cafe was damaged.
She told The Guardian that small businesses have offered to donate part of their profits and host fundraisers for the couple. Some have dropped off ice cream at their place as a sign of solidarity.
“Words can’t describe just how seen and loved we feel,” she said.
“The only reason we’re positive is because of the people,” her husband agreed. “It’s really overwhelming, the love and support.”
The Indian-origin couple has launched a crowdfunding campaign to help cover repair and equipment replacement costs, clear outstanding debts to staff and suppliers, and fund a new location for And Bodega.
Their insurance has agreed to a $25,000 payout, which they say is not nearly enough.
Facing a bill of $100,000, Sharma is calling on Australia to slash its tobacco tax. He joins a rising number of economists and industry figures who believe lower taxes are the key to undercutting cheap illegal cigarettes.
(Also read: Tobacco tax hike could fuel illegal trade and undermine public revenue)