weekender the inner city FRI 2 MAY 2014 • Issue 185
Printed on 100% recycled paper
Dizzee with success
PROUDLY INDEPENDENT
Happy Mother’s Day There are plenty of great ways to spoil your mum p.16-19
Rise from the ashes After a disastrous fire, the iconic Post Cafe is soon to be reopened CHRIS CONNOLLY
Star returns for headlining tour p.26-27
Olympic’s major upset p.32
WestConnex concerns Greens want parklands protected p.11
@connolly2204
T
he Marrickville Post Cafe is about to reopen after being gutted in a fire nine months ago. Owner Danial Elali said he had only been running the cafe for three weeks before the fire but was very happy with how the business was going at the time. “The food was good and the staff were happy with the new management. When everyone’s doing a good job, the customers are happy too,” Mr Elali said. He said the fire was believed to have been deliberately lit but, as far as he is aware, the police have not been able to identify the arsonist. A police spokesperson said there was still an ongoing investigation in relation to the arson. The building, which is on the Commonwealth Heritage List, was built in 1891 and served as the Marrickville Post Office for over 100 years. In 1994, Australia Post moved its service to the rear of the building and the front part became a cafe. Mr Elali said the fire caused around $300,000 of damage and substantial building work needed to be done before they were able to start refurbishing the interior of the cafe in February this year. “It was heartbreaking to see everything go up in smoke. Since then we’ve been through eight months of hell,” he said. The interior has been redesigned but retains a number of key features that survived the blaze, including two iron columns with Corinthian capitals. Mr Elali said he is getting good feedback from former customers awaiting the cafe’s relaunch.
Danial Elali outside the soon to be reopened Post Cafe
THE NEW
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