Owner of Dakota nightclub building fears fire started by angry partygoer

THE owner of the building that is home to a Ringwood nightclub destroyed in a fire yesterday, fears an angry partygoer sought revenge.

THE owner of the building that is home to Club Dakota in Ringwood, destroyed in a suspicious fire yesterday, fears an angry partygoer sought revenge.

The fire sparked at 2.45am and destroyed the Maroondah Highway nightclub and threatened nearby shops. Police are treating it as suspicious, with a dark coloured car seen speeding off after the fire.

It’s believed the tenant had been trying to sell the business in recent weeks.

Joe Cossari, who owns the building and leases it to the nightclub operators, said he was devastated to lose his life savings and retirement plan and to tarnish Ringwood’s reputation.

Firefighters check the structure of Club Dakota after it was destroyed by fire on Monday. Picture: Steve Tanner

The Knox councillor and former Maroondah mayor said the nightclub was well run and hadn’t experienced any problems recently but he’s worried an angry patron had burnt it down deliberately.

“If someone has a beef with someone else, just talk in person — don’t get us into this crazy situation,” Cr Cossari said.

“A crime is a crime and you can’t just let this happen. It’s created havoc.”

It is believed the building’s tenant and operator is overseas but plans to return to Ringwood as soon as possible to assess the damage.

Dakota nightclub goes up in smoke. Picture: Hamish Blair

Cr Cossari, who bought the building in the 1980s, has insurance and has vowed to rebuild. He hopes the building will one day reopen again as a nightclub.

“The damage is absolutely huge and I don’t know when it will be repaired or assessed,” he said.

“I’ve worked my butt off to have a comfortable retirement and here it goes.”

A passer-by captures the fire. Picture: Facebook

Witness Cody Myers was the first on scene and saw suspicious activity outside the club as the fire raged inside.

“Pulling up we saw a dark coloured car stopped outside Dakota and as soon as we came through they sped off,” he said.

The nightclub was well alight when fire crews arrived, with shops on both sides being threatened.

A section of the Maroondah Highway was closed as 15 MFB crews worked for more than 90 minutes to control the blaze.

Victoria Police Sergeant Anthoula Moutis confirmed the fire was being treated as suspicious.