A popular Greek restaurant in Melbourne’s west caught fire overnight, with police treating the incident as suspicious.
Emergency services were called to Eleni’s Kitchen on Anderson Street around 5 a.m. on Friday morning. When firefighters arrived, they found smoke pouring out of the double-storey building with a shopfront. Crews quickly contained the fire and confirmed that all occupants were safe.
The blaze started in Eleni’s Kitchen and Bar and then spread to the neighboring Jimmy’s Deli, both owned and operated by the same family. Eleni’s Kitchen’s front windows were completely smashed, and the interior was extensively charred. Jimmy, who owns the adjacent dry cleaners, expressed his shock over the fire.
“I came in around 9am this morning and saw all the damage,” he said. “The owners own both stores and they have both been damaged. It must be so devastating.”
A neighbouring florist has also been damaged during the fire whose owner is currently in London visiting their sick mother.
“It will be absolutely awful to come home to your business being damaged like this,” said Jimmy. “This whole street is so tight knit and it is just heartbreaking to have this happen.”
A community warning was issued for smoke in the area. The exact circumstances surrounding the fire are yet to be determined, but police are currently treating it as suspicious. A crime scene has been established, and an arson chemist will attend the scene later this morning.
Anyone who witnessed the incident, has dashcam/CCTV footage or information is urged to contact Crime Stoppers on 1800 333 000 or log onto www.crimestoppers.com.au
Source: Herald Sun
