Judith Lewis, owner of the beloved Lewis’ Continental Kitchen in Bondi, is still searching for answers after her deli was destroyed in a suspicious fire last year.

Police have arrested four men in connection with the blaze and another fire at a nearby brewery, but the motive behind the attacks remains a mystery.
The fire at Lewis’ Continental Kitchen broke out just after 4:00 a.m. on 20 October 2024, gutting the deli, which had been a Bondi institution since 1971. Ms Lewis expressed her shock and disbelief, stating that the men charged were “strangers” to her and that she had no idea why anyone would target her business. “We are not aware of anyone who has ever complained, so we’ve got no idea where this comes from,” she said. “We’re still in the dark about who started it, authorised, or paid for it.”

The fire forced the evacuation of nearby residents and caused significant damage to the deli, leaving Ms Lewis and her team to pick up the pieces. While relieved that no one was injured, she struggles to understand why her business was targeted. Ms Lewis dismissed speculation that the attack was motivated by anti-Semitism, pointing out that “Lewis” is a very common name.
Despite the devastating fire, Ms Lewis and her team have shown resilience, reopening Lewis’ Continental Kitchen at a new location in Darlinghurst. She praised the work of the police, stating that they had been incredibly supportive throughout the ordeal.
The fire at Lewis’ Continental Kitchen occurred three days after a similar incident at the Curly Lewis Brewing Company on Campbell Parade. Police are investigating whether the two fires are connected and if the brewery was mistakenly targeted by arsonists who intended to attack the deli. Two men have been charged to each fire, and all four remain before the courts.
Published Date 16-Jan-2025