Bad news for fans of cheap pizza and plane fuselages in pubs, inner-Melbourne cornerstone Bimbo Deluxe was severely damaged after a fire ripped through its upper levels overnight.
24 firefighters attended the blaze at the popular dive bar and eatery on Brunswick St in Fitzroy after the call was made at around 1:20am. While the fire was concentrated in the offices on the second level of the building, it’s believed that damage from the fire extended to the main bar on the ground floor below.
Upper floor of Bimbo Deluxe on Brunswick St in Fitzroy (next to Vegie Bar) badly damaged by fire. It was empty when the blaze started around 1.15am. pic.twitter.com/TTbajHd1fW
— Paul Dowsley (@paul_dowsley) May 15, 2018
No one was inside the building at the time of the fire, and firefighters worked through the early hours of the morning to contain the fire which has since been put out.
The building itself holds huge historical significance for Melbourne’s thriving live music scene. Formally known as The Punters Club, the venue played host to the likes of Magic Dirt, Something For Kate, TISM, Spiderbait, You Am I, Frente!, Rocket Science, and The Lucksmiths. The venue closed its doors in 2002, before being rebranded as Bimbos. The long-time owner and operator of Punters Club subsequently bought the Commercial Hotel in Northcote, rebranding it as the Northcote Social Club.
Investigators are at the scene working to determine the cause of the blaze.
Current Bimbos management are yet to issue comment on the incident.