Fire has ripped through five shops at the Gold Coast's iconic Nobby Beach dining precinct.
Police are investigating the "suspicious fire" that started about 2am Saturday on Lavarack Avenue, gutting Little Beans, Hugo's Burgers, The Protein Place, a kebab shop and a fish and chip shop.
Police said the fire is believed to have started in Little Beans cafe and spread to other businesses, causing extensive damage to the building. A nearby business owner said there were reports the fire had started in the ceiling.
A Queensland Fire Service spokesperson said crews first arrived on scene at 1.44am and it took six crews to get the fire under control by 2.34am.
The QFS spokesperson also said the fire started in the rear of the building and produced "a lot of smoke and flame".
A crime scene has been established. No one was injured.
