In a troubling series of incidents, LaLa Nail Co, a luxury nail salon in Essendon, Melbourne’s north-west, was ram-raided by a black ute around 3.30am. This attack marks the third time the salon has faced aggression since its opening earlier this year. Police found the vehicle crashed inside the store, with a threatening message spray-painted on the side that read, “pay ur tick you fat dog.”
Local residents have expressed concerns about the salon being a target, particularly highlighting the owner, a young woman, who has faced significant hardship. The business, which has only been operating for three months, has suffered repetitive vandalism and damage. Following the latest incident, the owner voiced her distress over the emotional toll and safety risks posed by the repeated attacks, stating it has caused her to reconsider the future of her business.
In an Instagram post, LaLa Nail Co addressed the ongoing situation, lamenting the impact on their reputation and the well-being of nearby residents. The owner indicated that the persistent damage was overwhelming and deeply affected her mental health, saying, “We are now faced with the difficult question of whether we can continue.”
In a heartfelt reflection shared on social media, the owner, who goes by ‘Sam’, expressed her sense of despair, questioning how much more she could withstand after investing so much to open the salon. “These people are just pure evil,” she remarked, emphasising her feelings of being beaten down.
Police are treating the ram-raid as a targeted act, with investigations still in progress. Earlier in June, the business was similarly attacked when offenders smashed the front windows using a hammer. Reports suggest that the intended target of these attacks may have connections to the salon but not the owners themselves.
As the community rallies around LaLa Nail Co, the future of the business hangs in the balance amidst growing fears of safety and repeated harassment.