Mybake bakery owner forced to put business up for sale

Drunks, drug users and brawlers are forcing traders in one suburban shopping strip to the wall, driving customers away. How did it get so bad?

Mybake bakery, which is for sale yet still in operation.

A shop owner in a notoriously troubled Heidelberg West shopping strip has been forced to put his bakery on the market after barely scraping by, making just $30 a day.

Fazel Palizian blames his Moresby Court store’s financial struggles on its location, directly opposite the Olympic Village Green Park and leisure centre.

“Everyone is scared to come here; people drinking, drug problems and fighting, the area needs to improve,” Mr Palizian said.

He has lived in Heidelberg West for 18 years with his wife and four children and has seen the area slowly improve, but not enough to keep his business afloat.

“I don’t want to sell but I’m not making any money, I can’t afford to pay for labour, I make $30 to $40 a day.”

Mr Palizian bought the property in 2013 for $185,000 and created Mybake, a small bakery selling Middle Eastern breads and sweets.

Graffitied shop fronts, mostly closed, on Moresby Court shopping strip.

Empty beer bottles, cigarettes and nitrous oxide canisters line the pavement of the Moresby Court shopping strip.

When the Heidelberg Leader visited the shopping strip it found most of the stores were closed.

“This is a terrible area, police try to help but they can’t do much, we need security,” Mr Palizian said.

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Four doors down, Pardis Ashkamnia owns Fish n Burger Joint with her sister.

They bought the property two months ago and already call it the biggest mistake of their lives.

“We didn’t know about the area, it’s terrible, no one wants to buy anything, they only come here for alcohol,” she said.

She makes less than $100 on a good day, saying customers are scared by people loitering outside her store, drinking and asking for free food.

Google reviews of the area were not positive. Michael Prins said he would not recommend anyone walk alone in the area.

“I witnessed a few drug deals taking place in these streets, stay away unless you have to be there,” Mr Prins said.

Public consumption of alcohol has become so prevalent signs had to be erected in Moresby Court to curb drinking.

Craig Bourke said: “Not a nice place, I am glad I know to avoid this suburb.”

Thirteen Moresby Court is open to expressions of interest, with offers starting at $360,000.

Heidelberg West was the beacon of national pride in 1956 when it was the Olympic Village, housing 5000 of the world’s best athletes.

The Herald Sun spent time with local traders, police and residents in 2015 to discuss its social challenges 60 years on.

You can read the special report HERE.