Heart of Carlton cafe attacked multiple times by brazen crooks

A Carlton cafe made famous for its $5 menu has bore the brunt of several vicious attacks after hours, with staff fearing the business has been targeted for personal reasons.

Workers at a popular Carlton cafe say they are “barely sleeping” after multiple vicious attacks on the business which they fear is motivated by a personal vendetta.

The Heart of Carlton cafe on Elgin St — which rose to fame last year for its under $5 menu — bore the brunt of four separate attacks in the past 10 days, with windows smashed and white paint mixed with urine thrown on the building’s black exterior.

Owner Michael Kelly — who has run the cafe since 2018 — said he felt helpless against the regular attacks which “seemed like a personal aggression towards the shop”.

The Heart of Carlton owner Michael Kelly said he has barely slept since the attacks started. Picture: Athos Sirianos

“It’s been really horrible,” he said.

“We’re trying to do something really beautiful with the cafe and in the community, so to get hit with something like this is very dark.

“I haven’t slept for nearly two weeks, I’ve just been half awake and half napping here and there and then we’re open for 12 hours, it’s very hard work.

“I sensed that there was something to it and it was a personal thing from the beginning ... it’s very deliberate and very focused.”

“If you’ve had four targeted attacks and when you really think about it, it’s not like police can just park a car here overnight and wait for them to come.

“So these guys realise they almost have permission because they can get away with it.”

The Heart of Carlton cafe on Elgin St has been attacked multiple times in the past fortnight, with its windows smashed and paint and urine thrown on the building. Picture: Athos Sirianos

The Heart of Carlton owner Michael Kelly said he has barely slept since the attacks started. Picture: Athos Sirianos

The brazen crooks smashed the cafe’s retractable windows in their first attack, following it up days later by throwing white paint and urine at the building.

It comes as recorded criminal damage offences — including graffiti and vandalism — rose by about 13 per cent across the state in the past 12 months.

Mr Kelly said nearby businesses were reguarly harrassed by “people on drugs” who turned violent.

“You see people steal from the petrol station next door and if anyone intervenes they get aggressive,” he said.

“It’s been a serious problem for a long time and it feels like it’s got worse and worse.”

One of the cafe’s regulars set up a fundraiser last week to help the business recover from the regular attacks.