Ashish Sharma and Manali Purohit spent five months fitting out their dream cafe, And Bodega, in Melbourne's North Fitzroy. The vegan cafe, named after New York convenience stores, opened in July. Early on Monday 12 October, the cafe was severely damaged in a suspected arson attack that gutted the tobacco shop next door, which had opened only weeks earlier.
The attack is part of a spate of firebombings targeting tobacconists across Melbourne, with hundreds hit since late 2023. The day after the firebombing, about $5,000 worth of technology and equipment was stolen from the burnt-out cafe. Sharma described the scene as feeling like a “warzone”, with the roof melted off and soot everywhere.
Community support and crowdfunding
The couple have set up a crowdfunding campaign to raise funds for repairing and replacing equipment, paying outstanding staff and supplier costs, and planning a new home for And Bodega. Purohit, who grew up in Mumbai and trained as a pastry chef in India, said they have received offers from fellow small businesses to donate profits, host fundraisers, and drop off ice-cream. Sharma said the support has been overwhelming.
Emergency services were called to reports of an explosion on St Georges Road at about 3.40am on Monday. Police believe one or multiple offenders forced entry into the tobacco shop and set it alight. The tobacconist was completely destroyed, while And Bodega and other neighbouring businesses were damaged. One resident told the ABC she felt her apartment building rock from the force of the explosion.
Insurance and rebuilding plans
The couple's contents insurance, taken out before the tobacco store opened, is expected to provide a payout of about $25,000, but it may not cover the cost of rebuilding at the same location. Guardian Australia has previously reported that small businesses near tobacconists are being denied insurance or priced out of coverage as arson attacks rise.
Last month, new laws allowing inspectors to close stores selling illegal tobacco products came into effect in Victoria. The Victorian Coalition said the new closure powers had “barely made a dent” and vowed to bolster laws and increase police presence if elected next month. Sharma and Purohit hope to reopen And Bodega as a smaller hole-in-the-wall cafe serving baked goods and coffee. “If we can restart, it's at least one small way to fight against the violence,” Sharma said.
