New Perth restaurant boss reveals struggles after opening just 5 days before major fire

Rishi's Indian Aroma opened on South St John's Place, a short distance from the scene of the Scott Street blaze.

By Andrew Robson

June 27 2025, 7:13pm

Manager Rasaiya Rasan inside Rishi's in Perth. Image: Richard Wilkins

The owner of a new Indian restaurant in Perth has spoken of its struggles after opening just days before a major city centre fire.

Rishi’s Indian Aroma opened on South St John’s Place on June 9.

However, just five days later, a fatal fire tore through a tenement building on nearby Scott Street, leaving about 50 families and several businesses homeless.

Part of the street will remain closed for up to 24 weeks while the fire-hit building is demolished.

The new Rishi’s Indian Aroma on South St John’s Place opened this month. Image: Richard Wilkins

Atheepan Aiyathurai, who co-owns the restaurant opposite Perth Museum, says the business could not have opened at a worse time with many potential customers avoiding the area.

Business ‘really slow’ for Indian restaurant since Scott Street fire

He said: “Since the fire business has been really slow.

“People have been avoiding the city centre altogether.

“I think there has been some confusion over what streets are open and where people can park.

Demolition is under way at the fire-hit Scott Street building in Perth — Demolition is under way at the fire-hit Scott Street building. Steve Brown/DC Thomson

“It’s also putting off those who live outside of Perth coming into the city.

“We’ve noticed the museum has been much quieter since the fire.

“It’s affected us getting off the ground, there was one day this week where we had just six tables all day.

“Rishi’s is a big name across Scotland, and I expected more people in the first few weeks than we’ve had.”

Rishi’s have other restaurants throughout Scotland. Image: Richard Wilkins

Rishi’s opened in Aberdeen more than 15 years ago and has locations in Dundee, Glasgow, Edinburgh and Stirling.

Atheepan says he opened the Perth restaurant because of a lack of south-Indian cuisine.

He added: “There are items on our menu you can’t get anywhere else in the city, such as the south Indian dosas.

“The menu is full of curries people will be familiar with, but they’re cooked in a south Indian way, it’s a different style of cooking.”

It comes after a fellow restaurant boss in Perth city centre made a plea to customers to honour their bookings.

Nongmay Buncharoen from Mae Ping Thai Dining on South Street said no-shows have become a real problem in light of the fire.

Perth and Kinross Council is working with families and businesses affected by the Scott Street fire, and £250,000 of emergency funding has been made available.