Following a devastating arson attack on a $2 shop situated within the Hogans Corner shopping center at the intersection of Hogans Road and Derrimut Road in Hoppers Crossing, Smokin Joes Pizza and Grill finds itself grappling with significant challenges. The fire, deemed suspicious, occurred on May 8, 2024, leaving the cherished local eatery unable to resume operations as cleanup and repair efforts loom large.
This incident marks the second assault on the shopping center, the prior one occurring on August 11, 2023, around 4:15 am, where fire services swiftly responded to a reported firebombing incident targeting a tobacconist shop, according to police reports.
The owners of Smokin Joes Pizza and Grill have voiced their distress, lamenting their store’s prolonged closure and the refusal of insurance coverage for the arson attack. “Since the arson attack, our store has been closed for months, and we have not been granted access to commence cleanup and repairs. We are in a dire situation where insurance has declined coverage and is shifting repair costs onto us,” a store spokesperson stated.
This incident adds to the concerning trend known as Melbourne’s “tobacco wars,” characterized by a surge in arson attacks targeting businesses suspected of involvement in the illicit tobacco trade. However, innocent establishments like Smokin Joes Pizza and Grill bear the brunt of these criminal activities. Seeking solidarity from the local community, the restaurant, deeply ingrained in the Hoppers Crossing community, appeals for support and prayers to facilitate their recovery. “We are striving to rebuild from the ground up. Your prayers, assistance, and support are indispensable for our return to serving you,” they emphasized.
Recent communiques dispatched by councils to shop proprietors across metropolitan and regional zones have underscored the insurance perils associated with criminal activities. These notices caution landlords potentially linked to Victoria’s illicit tobacco trade of substantial insurance hazards. Victoria Police, in collaboration with local councils, have alerted shop proprietors that Taskforce Lunar investigators will apprise insurance firms of their arson inquiries if evidence indicates the involvement of illegal products on the premises.
“The purpose of the letter is to highlight to landlords the current risks associated with businesses engaged in illicit activity, and the risk they present,” stated police authorities. “This encompasses the risk to existing insurance arrangements as well as the potential adverse impact on nearby businesses and properties due to fires and other criminal activities.”
As Smokin Joes Pizza and Grill perseveres through this challenging period, the unwavering support of the Hoppers Crossing community assumes paramount importance in aiding the local enterprise’s recovery and eventual reopening. The broader repercussions of the tobacco wars underscore the plight of innocent businesses ensnared in the conflict, necessitating a concerted community-driven endeavor to assist those affected.