Satchmo Cafe: Cafe closed until further notice as ‘heartbroken’ owner in Malaysia to catch first flight home

The owner of Satchmo Cafe was not even in the country when a fire caused devastating damage that forced his North Perth restaurant to shut.

Nathan Karnovsky confirmed with PerthNow he was ‘stuck’ on a Malaysian island with no signal but will be back as soon as possible.

“I will try to get a flight back as soon as I’m on the mainland,” he said.

“I’ll keep you posted.”

Mr Karnovsky confirmed staff were already leading the cleanup after Wednesday morning’s kitchen fire, which was caused by a deep fryer, but anticipates that the cafe will be ‘closed for some time’.

“We will be closed for a while to refit,” the post says.

“I am overwhelmed by the support. I will do everything I can to get the doors open as soon as I can.

“I had been forced on a break due to my health, probably why you haven’t seen me there.

“But don’t fear I will be back soon with Satchmo 2.0 :)“

The cafe is insured.

Firefighters responded to calls about the fire at the Satchmo cafe in North Perth at 10.18am and contained the blaze by around 10.30am.

The Department of Fire and Emergency Services confirmed staff and customers safely evacuated before the fire spread.

Residents and visitors near the intersection of Fitzgerald and Forrest Streets were urged to stay inside.

DFES said there was no direct threat to lives or homes, but people in the area should remain indoors and out of the smoke and fumes, keeping doors and windows closed and switching off air-conditioners as a precaution.

One lane between Fitzgerald Street between Angove and Vincent streets has been closed, with motorists urged to avoid the area, reduce speed and drive carefully.