Grubbies Burgers and Hawaiian BBQ owner opens up after nightmare arson attacks

The owner of a South East Queensland burger chain has opened up about the “nightmare” he is living in after two of his stores were targeted in suspected arson attacks.

Owner of Grubbies Ben Niumata in his burnt and damaged Strathpine store. Picture: Liam Kidston

The owner of a South East Queensland burger chain has opened up about the “nightmare” he is living in after two of his stores were targeted in suspected arson attacks.

Grubbies Burgers and Hawaiian BBQ owner Ben Niumata says he has no idea why people targeted his restaurants in these alleged attacks, which left his Strathpine store almost completely destroyed and Redbank Plains location damaged.

Grubbies Redbank Plains went up in flames at 1.20am on September 2 and just 10 minutes later, as firefighters battled that blaze, the chain’s Strathpine restaurant was also allegedly torched.

Police believed both fires were linked.

Owner of Grubbies, Ben Niumata, in his burnt and damaged Strathpine store. Picture: Liam Kidston

Mr Niumata used his life savings to open the Redbank store in 2021.

The concept became so popular he now had three locations after the launch of Grubbies at Slacks Creek last month.

Mr Niumata said he could not believe what had happened.

“For me, the last few days, it’s been hell. I feel like I’m in a nightmare, we’ve kind of been living in fear after this,” he said.

“The whole unknown is the scariest thing, the unknown as far as we have no idea who would ever do anything like this.

“It’s so far beyond the people that we are and the life that we live.

Arson attack at Grubbies restaurant, Strathpine. Picture: Liam Kidston

“But it’s scary, I’m scared, not just for myself, but for my staff.

“I don’t have any big personal issues with anyone, no vendettas or anything like that.

“I’ve even checked in with my staff but most of them are young, they don’t have any real issues with people.

“It’s to the point where I'm with police, even going through Google reviews to see if there’s anything bad on there to make someone do something like this.

Police at the scene of an arson attack overnight at Grubbies Burgers & Hawaiian BBQ at Redbank Plains.

“We’ve had break-ins and stuff like that before but they’ve just been young kids – this is way beyond that and that’s what makes me fearful.”

Mr Niumata said he was able to open the Redbank Plains restaurant later on the day of the alleged arson as damage was minor.

Luckily, people from a nearby laundromat scared the alleged offenders away and the fire was extinguished quickly.

But the Strathpine restaurant would need significant repairs before it could be reopened.

Owner of Grubbies Ben Niumata in his burnt and damaged Strathpine store. Picture: Liam Kidston

The 33-year-old husband and father also said the business was covered by insurance but the events had taken a big physical and mental toll on him.

“I just don’t know whether I have the physical or mental capacity to do it all over again,” Mr Niumata said.

“Grubbies started from nothing. It started from me just being on the grill.

“I used all my life savings and then it just took off, the community really got behind it and supported it to the point where we had three places.

“We also do all the fit-outs ourselves, everything is done with our own bare hands and the help of friends and the community, so to go through this is just heartbreaking.

Arson attack at Grubbies restaurant, Strathpine. Picture: Liam Kidston

“I have 38 staff, eight sets of siblings in my staff and that’s how we’ve been able to grow.

“We’re all about family and community and we do a lot in that community, even with the local sporting clubs that we sponsor.

“That’s why this just doesn’t make any sense.”

Mr Niumata said some of the staff from Strathpine would work at his other stores while the rest would wait for Strathpine to reopen.

He encouraged anyone with information to come forward and help police.

A Queensland Police spokesman said no one had been arrested or charged and investigations were continuing.

Words of support for Grubbies from the community flooded social media in the days since the fires.

“Our hearts are heavy this morning, after receiving the devastating news that a fellow local business owner, Grubbies Burgers & Hawaiian BBQ, someone Essence Electrical has worked closely with in the past six months, has had their livelihood threatened with arson attacks overnight,” a post from another local business, Essence Electrical, said.

“If you know the owner of Grubbies – Ben, you know that he continuously supports the local community and is a dedicated, ambitious and motivated business owner.

“We are keeping him in our thoughts and are on standby to help in any way we can.”

Originally published as Grubbies Burgers and Hawaiian BBQ owner opens up after nightmare arson attacks