Glick’s open for business after fatal crash

DALIA SABLE

GLICK’S Bakery in Bentleigh has reopened less than a week after a car crashed through five shopfronts in Centre Road, before hitting a power line and exploding.

The driver of the vehicle died at the scene at about 1.50am on Friday morning.

A temporary frontage has enabled the bakery to reopen, with a new permanent shopfront to be installed within weeks.

Family-run Bentleigh Jewellers, adjacent to Glick’s, suffered extensive damage to the front and inside of the store and will be closed for between four and eight weeks.

Jeweller and owner Bernie Santen told The AJN that the car – which was allegedly travelling close to 150 kilometres per hour when it crashed – had backed into his shop, totally destroying the security grill and frontage.

The heat from the car’s subsequent explosion melted plastic cabinets and caused extensive smoke damage within. Despite the damage to the store, no jewellery was damaged.
Santen has spent recent days calling his clients to assure them their pieces are unharmed.

“We’re in good spirits,” he said.

Glick’s general manager Nathan Glick told The AJN he received a call from his baker at two o’clock on Friday morning informing him of the accident that left the facade of the iconic bakery destroyed, and significant smoke damage within.

“The amount of damage here looks like an aeroplane came through the window,” Glick said on Friday before the store was cleaned and repaired.

It was reported the driver was first spotted speeding by Victoria Police 10 kilometres from the accident scene. The police did not give chase because of the dangerous speed.

Aside from an estimated loss of $5000 worth of stock at Glick’s, the damage caused to the bakery and Santen’s jewellery shop was covered by insurance.