Ashish Sharma and Manali Purohit had invested almost all of their life savings into opening their dream vegan cafe in Melbourne. But after just three months of operating, they lost their entire space to an arson attack by tobacconists, as per a report by The Australia Today.On the morning of October 12, the cafe was severely damaged in a suspected arson attack that gutted the tobacco shop next door, which had opened in recent weeks. The day after the firebombing, about $5,000 worth of technology and equipment was stolen from the burnt-out cafe. When the couple entered the cafe after the robbery, Sharma said it felt like their "dream had been ripped away." “It felt like a warzone,” he said.
“The roof had melted off – soot everywhere.”It was in July 2026 that the couple's cafe 'And Bodega' opened in Melbourne's Fitzroy North. The name was a nod to the neighbourhood convenience stores synonymous with New York. They had spent the past five months scouring Facebook Marketplace for second-hand furniture, layered coats of paint on walls and installed plumbing to fit out their dream. “We put in basically all our life savings.
We did a lot of it DIY,” said co-owner Sharma to The Guardian.
Purohit, who grew up in Mumbai and trained as a pastry chef in India, had hoped their plant-based cafe would become a welcoming neighbourhood destination.When a new business moved in next door, they initially believed it would be a grocery store that complemented their cafe. However, their concerns grew when they realised it may be a tobacco shop instead. The couple said customers had also expressed fears about the possibility of arson attacks, amid a wider wave of firebombings targeting tobacconists across Victoria.
This attack has come amid a series of firebombings attacking tobacconists across Melbourne, with hundreds hit since late 2023.In late September, Purohit noticed broken glass at the neighbouring shop and a handwritten note on its wall. The tobacconist’s windows were reportedly smashed again shortly before the October attack.Emergency services were called to respond to reports of an explosion on St Georges Road about 3:40 am on Monday.
Police investigators 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, police said in a statement.According to Guardian Australia, small businesses located near tobacconists are being denied insurance or priced out of coverage as rising arson attacks lead to collateral damage.
For Sharma and Purohit, their contents insurance, taken out before the tobacco store opening, is expected to provide a payout of about $25,000. But the funds are not expected to cover the costs of rebuilding the cafe at the same location.Currently, the couple have set up a crowdfunding campaign to raise funds for repairing and replacing equipment, paying outstanding staff and supplier costs while looking for a new home for And Bodega.
“The only reason we’re positive is because of the people,” Sharma said. “It’s really overwhelming, the love and support.”Purohit said they have also received offers from fellow small businesses to donate portions of their profits to the couple, host fundraisers and drop off ice-cream. “Words can’t describe just how seen and loved we feel,” she said.In September 2026, new laws allowing inspectors to close stores that sell illegal tobacco products came into effect in Victoria. However, the Victorian Coalition said the government's new closure powers "had barely made a dent" and vowed that if elected next month, it would bolster laws and increase police presence to close down illegal retailers.As for Sharma and Purohit, they 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.