As you know, all of our electorates have characters, and I rise to talk about one of my constituents, Gem Gautam. Gem is the owner of the Busy Bee Deli in the suburb of Como in my electorate. It is a popular corner deli frequently visited by locals. Constituents often comment to me on how caring and friendly Gem is and how much they love his deli, which is more of a mini-market catering to the local community.
Como man Gautam Gautam knows well the heartbreak of having a livelihood destroyed by fire – he lost his business in a suspected arson attack in October last year.
Mr Gautam took over the Busy Bee Deli in Como just 17 months before a suspicious fire, which started at a neighbouring store and tore through his business causing $200,000 worth of damage.
FIRE destroyed a popular local shop in Como last year and owner Gautam ‘Gem’ Gautam is now calling on community members to help him bring Busy Bee Deli back.
ARSON Squad detectives are investigating a fire which destroyed the Diamond Barber Shop in Como on Tuesday night, leaving a $250,000 damage bill.
The fire was reported to Department of Fire and Emergency Services about 11.25pm on Tuesday night and five units were deployed to the salon located on the corner of Canning Highway and Barker Avenue.
It took 22 firefighters to bring the blaze under control.
A DFES spokesman said the estimated damage to the building is about $250,000.
The deli next-door to the hairdressers has also been significantly damaged by fire.
A suspicious fire that destroyed a Como barber shop last night has forced a neighbouring business to close its doors because of extensive fire and water damage.
Busy Bee Deli owner Gautam Gautam said the fire, which caused an estimated $250,000 damage to the Diamond Barber Shop at the corner of Canning Highway and Barker Avenue, had also damaged his premises.
