The owner of a Turkish restaurant in Congleton was this week struggling to come to terms with a suspected arson attack that destroyed his second premises in Prestbury just as it was about to open.
Mehmet Kaygusuz, (46), has run Deniz Turkish Kitchen on West Street, Congleton, for 18 months.
He was about to open a restaurant of the same name in Prestbury having spent thousands on a new kitchen and fittings at a former tapas and wine bar.
But it was gutted in a blaze in the early hours of Thursday, on his wife Mine’s 39th birthday.
Speaking at his Congleton restaurant, which he named after seven-year-old daughter Deniz, and with his wife sitting next to him, Mr Kaygusuz said: “There was a lot of damage. It was totally gutted. Everything was brand new; brand new kitchen, acoustic panelling lined the walls, brand new lighting and fixtures. We had renewed everything, including the electrics.”
He told the “Chronicle” he didn’t know if he would reopen the Congleton restaurant, saying: “I’m anxious and I cannot sleep. I keep waking up from nightmares and I’m unable to focus on my business anymore. I’ve put in a lot of money and time but everything has gone.”
Mr Kaygusuz has had to call and cancel guests who had pre-booked tables, including a party of 22 who had been due to dine there on Monday.
His wife and sister, Gungor, were going to run their Prestbury eatery, on New Road, formally the Lilac Cottage tapas and wine bar.
He said: “It was a good opportunity in a good location. The fire happened on Mine’s 39th birthday; that’s the gift we had.”
Added Mr Kaygusuz: “I don’t know if I’ve got the mindset to work. When I saw what had happened with my own eyes I just wanted to step back and do something else. I don’t have the energy after what has happened.”
The family moved to the UK from Turkey in February 2020, just before the pandemic. They are from the Turkish city of Bursa, a two-hour ferry ride from Istanbul.
“We first arrived in Liverpool and later saw a business opportunity with the restaurant in Congleton and moved here. It is a nice place to live and we are happy to be here. There are nice people and we are surrounded by farm land and green areas,” said Mr Kaygusuz.
He said he found out about the blaze on Friday morning when a worker at the Prestbury premises rang him. When he arrived the emergency services had cordoned it off.
Of the fire and the likelihood that it was arson, he said: “I’ve lost a lot of money and savings. I really want to find out who did this and want to know the reason why they did it. I cannot sleep and I just want to cry when I see what’s happened; it’s horrible. Why did they pick that place?”
A notice to “valued customers” hanging in the front door of the Congleton restaurant, explaining why it was closed, said: “We are profoundly saddened by this event and as a result, we are unable to provide service at this time. Additionally, we must address several matters related to our property in Congleton.”
Cheshire Fire and Rescue Service said the alarm was raised shortly before 12.30am on Thursday.
One fire engine from Congleton and others from Macclesfield, Bollington, and Offerton attended the scene.
Four firefighters wearing breathing apparatus used a covering jet to extinguish the blaze.
The fire was contained and surrounding properties were checked as a precaution.
The fire service said the blaze was suspected to have been deliberate. The incident has been handed over to Cheshire Police, which was asked to comment.
