‘Why us?‘: Business owner heartbroken to learn her store target of arson

Business owners are scared and confused after learning their businesses were destroyed in a deliberately set fire. CTV News Edmonton's Nav Sangha reports.

An Edmonton woman is grappling with the loss of her decade old business after it was destroyed in an arson.

“I was so shocked,” the owner of Andaz Fashion Boutique told CTV News Edmonton.

Because of fears for her safety, she asked that her name not be used.

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She said her son arrived at her house in the early morning hours on April 8 to tell her the plaza that housed her business was on fire.

“We were trying to look at the cameras but the camera was not working,” she said.

The boutique owner went to the scene, where she said the fire department told her the blaze started in her store.

“We never harm anybody and we are here since 10 years, everybody’s so nice to us and we are very good to customers,” she said.

“That’s why I was so shocked. My heart is broken. Why somebody target us?” she added.

Surveillance video from the night of the fire has emerged that shows someone walk up to the clothing store, break the glass and throw something inside.

Moments later fire erupts.

“And the fireball was just … I don’t know how this guy escaped, first of all. That was amazing to see, I thought he was gone,” said Kam Khinda, owner of Choice Travel, which was also impacted by the fire.

When police arrived at the strip mall located at 34 Avenue and 92 Street, it was engulfed in flames.

Police said 25 units at the mall were affected and estimate the fire caused several millions of dollars worth of damage.

Edmonton Fire Rescue Services (EFRS) ruled the fire suspicious and the EPS Investigation Response Team is now heading the investigation.

“It’s fear in the community,” said Khinda.

“It’s tough to see. You have your business for years and years and somebody comes and destroys it,” he added.

Khinda has operated his travel business here for more than 20 years.

“There’s a lot of smoke damage inside. All the desks, paperwork, all the computers are filled with dust inside, but the physical damage is less inside,” he said.

The boutique owner hasn’t been allowed to get too close to what’s left of her business.

“It’s very difficult. We depend on this business and now how are we going to survive? It’s really hard,” she said through tears.

“I couldn’t believe this has happened to us.”

Despite the loss and fears some now have, Khinda said his business isn’t going anywhere.

“I’ve been talking to all the owners of the business, we’ll work together. This is our baby here, we’re not going anywhere.”

At least two GoFundMe fundraisers have been set up for businesses in the strip mall. One for the restaurant Chutney and one for the Andaz Fashion Boutique.

With files from CTV News Edmonton’s Nav Sangha