Politics · India Bureau
Indian-origin cafe owners launch crowdfunding after arson attack in Melbourne
An Indian-origin couple in Melbourne has turned to crowdfunding to rebuild their vegan cafe after an arson attack destroyed their business just weeks after opening. Ashish Sharma and Manali Purohit had invested over $100,000 of their life savings into the venture.
LSN India ·
Ashish Sharma and Manali Purohit's vegan cafe 'And Bodega' in Fitzroy North, Melbourne, suffered extensive damage in an arson attack shortly after its launch, forcing the couple to seek community support through crowdfunding to recover from the financial blow.
The Indian-origin entrepreneurs had invested more than $100,000 of their personal savings into opening the cafe, representing years of careful planning and financial commitment. The incident, which police have linked to a nearby tobacco shop, resulted in significant property damage and additional theft, compounding their losses.
Despite the setback, Sharma and Purohit have received considerable support from their local community. They are actively searching for alternative locations to relocate their business while their crowdfunding campaign aims to raise funds for repairs and recovery.
The arson attack has become an unexpected challenge for the couple's entrepreneurial aspirations in Australia. As they work to rebuild, the community backing they have received has provided hope for reopening their vegan cafe in the coming months.