Our lives were threatened: shop owners

16th February 2009

The owners of Empire Body Piercing will not re-open their shop after it was destroyed in an arson attack on Saturday night.

THE victims of a Maryborough arson attack have revealed that they received threats on their lives both before and after they moved from Toowoomba to set up their Kent Street body piercing business.

As business owners Khris and Emma pored over the charred debris of Empire Body Piercing yesterday morning, they declared it unlikely that they would try to revive the shop, one of five businesses ravaged by Saturday night's blaze.

The two said they received a threatening phone call on the day before they left Toowoomba for the Fraser Coast.

“Why pick on us? If we've been targeted, what's next?” Emma said. “We have no association to any gang.”

First-time business owner Emma and partner Khris, who managed the shop, had been in business since December 15 last year.

Both were devastated when they got a phone call from Maryborough police on Saturday night and found out their shop was on fire.

“My heart just dropped,” Khris said. “There goes my business.”

They said they were not inclined to re-open the studio.

“We'll be getting away from it,” Khris said.

Khris and Emma had been worried that the equipment in the shop was not insured.

They found a broker who offered to help but had not finalised the paperwork.

Emma said many insurance companies refused to cover body piercing studios.

The other businesses affected by the fire were Daph's Dream, Carachel Boutique, Kent Street Book Exchange and De Lamauta Cafe which opened at the same time as the piercing studio.

“We became friends. I feel so guilty,” Khris said.

The business had established a solid clientele which has sent many messages of support to Khris and Emma.

“I'll be sending them (clients) all a big thank you.”

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Shop owners shocked by arson attack