The blaze erupted at 3:45 a.m. on St Georges Road, igniting the neighbouring tobacconist before seeping into And Bodega. Flames melted the roof and coated the walls in soot, leaving the interior a charred ruin.
Police say the fire was deliberate, with an offender breaching the tobacconist’s premises and setting it alight. The incident echoes a city‑wide spate of tobacco‑shop arson since late 2023, with hundreds of attacks recorded, yet no evidence links the targeted shop to illicit tobacco sales.
Financially, the loss is crippling. The couple’s insurance is expected to reimburse roughly $25,000, a fraction of the Rs 94 lakh they poured into the cafe. On top of that, thieves removed $5,000 worth of technology and equipment, further deepening the deficit. They have therefore launched a crowdfunding campaign to cover repairs, replace stolen gear, and secure a new venue.
Support has poured in from neighbours and fellow entrepreneurs. A local pastry chef offered to donate a portion of his profits, while staff member Rohan, 23, who worked at the cafe, expressed shock at losing his job. The couple, who trained in Mumbai and New Zealand, say community solidarity gives them hope to rebuild elsewhere or, if conditions allow, restore And Bodega in Fitzroy North.