A “legendary” Adelaide business has been destroyed by fire just months after the passing of its beloved owner, Konstantinos “Kon” Petrakos.
Croydon Motors in Ridleyton, which opened in 1972, was engulfed in flames on Thursday, along with a neighbouring home, in what SA Police are treating as a suspicious fire.
Born in Kalamata, Greece, in 1936, Kon migrated to Australia in 1964 and soon opened Croydon Motors.
He passed away in September at age 89 and was remembered by Dimitrios Jim Tsakiris as a “legend mechanic” who worked “seven days a week, 15 hours a day” over a career spanning more than 60 years.
Dozens of firefighters battled the blaze for nearly an hour, using high-pressure hoses and aerial cranes to control the fire and assess structural damage. Thick black smoke was visible from kilometres away, slowing traffic along South Road.
No injuries were reported, but the workshop was completely destroyed, with severe damage to the neighbouring house.
Community members mourned the loss of both the business and its founder, with Djloanni Kass posting, “RIP Kon, seeing his mechanics business burned to the ground.”
Source: The Advertiser.
