Two Melbourne dessert bars and tobacconist razed by fire in just 24 hours

There are fears Sydney’s ‘acai wars’ may have crossed the border after nine separate fires at Melbourne dessert bars, with the latest blaze destroying a popular Springvale business on Wednesday.

Have Sydney’s ‘acai wars’ hit Melbourne? Picture: David Crosling

A trio of suspicious blazes at three separate businesses within 24 hours remain under police investigation after a dessert bar and tobacconist were razed by fire on Wednesday.

Three separate police probes are underway after a Tullamarine tobacconist and a Springvale acai bar were destroyed by fire just a day after a Williamstown ice cream joint was targeted.

Detectives say a crew of offenders returned to the Melrose Tobacconist & Convenience Store in Tullamarine just a week after it was targeted in another firebombing attack.

The Melrose Ave smoke shop was again subject to an attack on Wednesday morning, in which a car was rammed into the security door before an accelerant was tossed inside.

The tobacco shop sustained extensive damage and investigators believe the two attacks on the same shop just days apart are linked.

Just an hour later, Springvale’s And Bowl — a popular ice cream and dessert bar on Springvale Rd — was destroyed by a suspicious blaze about 2.20am in what is the latest in a string of fires at similar venues.

A dessert shop in Springvale went up in flames in a suspicious fire. Picture: David Crosling

The inside of that venue, which is understood to be popular among scores of teenagers each night, was left an unrecognisable mess on Wednesday.

It remains unclear whether any offenders are involved in the Springvale blaze but it raises serious questions about Melbourne’s popular dessert scene.

Authorities will be hoping Sydney’s ‘acai wars’ — a recent trend where industry rivals trade barbs with each other online — has not crossed the border and into Melbourne.

But at least nine separate fires at the dessert bars across the city will have investigators working feverishly to find those responsible.

The inside of the Springvale venue was completely destroyed. Picture: David Crosling

Capriccio and its neighbours have both been targeted. Picture: Ian Currie

Willi Homemade Ice Cream and Acai in Williamstown became the fifth dessert joint to be targeted in that suburb after it was severely damaged by fire early on Tuesday.

It followed three fiery attacks on nearby neighbours Williamstown Ice Creamery & Frozen Yoghurt and one firebombing blast at Capriccio ice cream.

A Prahran cafe which specialises in acai bowls and ice cream was also subjected to two fires on its Chapel St store over the summer.

Dandenong’s Munch Spot was also reduced to rubble in another fiery attack on that Princes Hwy hotspot.

Dandenong's Munch Spot was razed by fire earlier this year. Picture: Instagram/ @munchspot.au

Williamstown has endured five fires on dessert bars in that suburb. Picture: Ian Currie

Victoria Police’s Arson and Explosives Squad Detective Inspector Chris Murray said the act of firebombing had proven to be a deadly tactic in the underground smoke trade.

He said the arson squad would be working with the force’s anti-illicit tobacco task force to investigate the Tullamarine fire.

“This is yet another example of reckless conduct which could have gone horribly wrong, with lives potentially lost,” he said.

“The significant risk this poses to the broader community is completely unacceptable.

“While we continue to work with Taskforce Lunar to do absolutely everything we can to target those responsible – the facilitators all the way to those at the top of the syndicates – we need the public’s help.”