Grand opening a flaming success
Perth’s first new-look Chicken Treat store was turning heads and stopping traffic on Beaufort Street today.
This isn’t an advertorial – the revamped fast-food outlet nearly went up in flames this afternoon, the day after its big launch.
The Inglewood store is the first franchise in Perth to undergo Chicken Treat’s Australian outback-themed makeover.
The design language, characterised by timber, raw metal and bricks, is being rolled out nationally.
Today's reopening was hailed a success by Chicken Treat chief executive and Perth resident Mimma Battista, but the joy was nearly short lived.
Fire crews rushed to the store about 4.15pm after the rooftop promotional balloon caught fire.
It is not clear how the fire started.
Despite the thick plume of black smoke billowing from the building, the damage was contained to the roof.
Perth fire station officer Noel Buckland said things could have ended very differently if firefighters had arrived a few minutes later.
“The big plastic balloon went up very quickly so there was lots and lots of thick, black smoke,” he said.
“It looked like the whole building was going up.
“Given a few more minutes, that could have set the insulation on fire and that’s when everything goes up pretty quick.”
Ms Battisa said she was just glad staff and customers were safe.
The store was reopened for trading within an hour.
