A woman has issued a desperate plea for help after her beloved café burnt down in a devastating blaze. The inferno ripped through Trisian’s Traditional Family Restaurant, in Harpurhey Shopping Centre, on Sunday afternoon (January 5).
The café was shut when the blaze broke out shortly after 3pm. Plumes of thick black smoke were seen billowing from the front of the café as fire crews tackled the flames.
Owner Thuy Nguyen, who poured her life savings into the popular venue, rushed to the scene after a worker at a nearby shop phoned her to tell her what had happened. She has now set up a GoFundMe page for support in mending her venue after it was left severely damaged and scorched by the fire.
Thuy Nguyen, the owner of Trisian’s Traditional Family Restaurant, in Harpurhey Shopping Centre
(Image: Manchester Evening News)
“I tried to run to the shop but they stopped me and said it was too dangerous,” she previously told the Manchester Evening News.
“I didn’t believe it would be this bad. I hoped it would just be something tiny but when I came in I was like ‘oh my God’. Everything in the kitchen is damaged. We have to get rid of everything.
“I don’t know where to start to sort this out. I’m feeling completely empty, I don’t know how to start again.”
Ms Nguyen, who took over the café in January of last year, believes the blaze the result of an electrical fault, which caused a fridge to catch fire.
The damage to the interior of Trisian’s Traditional Family Restaurant
(Image: Manchester Evening News)
She has been unable to reopen the café and fears the cost of repairing the damage could be insurmountable, prompting her to set up a fundraising page for help.
“There is substantial damage to most of the kitchen appliances and therefore cannot be saved. There will also be structural work will need to be carried out,” Thuy penned.
“Not only are we are at a loss, it is also affected our staff which have no job whilst the cafe is closed. This cafe is a big part of the community and I am asking any donations to this page would be much appreciated no matter how little.
“I put all of my savings to buy this cafe last year and now I don’t have much myself due to this investment.”
Donations can be made online here.