At 3:40 a.m. on Oct. 12, 2026, police were called to St Georges Road where a fire erupted in the adjoining tobacco shop, setting the vegan café's roof ablaze. The blaze gutted the building and left soot‑covered walls, according to police reports. Sharma told The Guardian that the café felt like a war zone, with the roof melted and the interior reduced to ashes.
And Bodega opened in Fitzroy North on July 19, 2026, after Sharma and Purohit poured almost all of their life savings into DIY renovations. Purohit, a pastry chef trained in Mumbai, said the café was meant to become a neighborhood haven for plant‑based food lovers.
The tobacco shop, which had opened only weeks earlier, was identified as a potential target by community members who feared arson. Victoria Police said the incident was part of a wave of firebombings that have hit over 200 tobacconist shops since late 2023. Small businesses near such shops are now denied insurance or face steep premiums, the Guardian Australia reported.
Police recovered about $5,000 worth of stolen equipment after the fire, and the couple's contents insurance is expected to pay roughly ₹18 lakh ($25,000). Facing a total loss, Sharma said they are turning to a crowdfunding campaign to cover repair costs, pay staff wages, and secure a new lease, citing the overwhelming love from the community.
Purohit added that fellow businesses have offered to donate profits, host fundraisers, and even supply free ice‑cream for the campaign. They plan to reopen as a smaller, hole‑in‑the‑wall café serving baked goods and coffee, hoping the new location will be less vulnerable to future attacks.