A St Julian's cafe has had its front door vandalised with crude slogans after the owners built an outdoor eating platform over car parking spaces. The same fate was suffered by the estate agency which operates the cafe. 

Nola Cafe had already faced a backlash from residents and the council, who complained about the loss of parking, including slots for people with disabilities.

The mayor, Albert Buttigieg, had called for passive resistance from locals, suggesting they boycott the cafe, operated by estate agency Remax.

However he condemned the vandalism that appeared this morning, describing it as "not acceptable". 

“Although my opinion on the platform is clear, I condemn this vandalism. It is not the way to get your way,” he said in a Facebook post.

This vandalism mirrored an unreported incident last week when the Remax office in Ta' Xbiex was also targeted by vandals who sprayed obscenities on its front door. 

The Remax offices in Ta` Xbiex were targeted by vandals last week.

Remax said in a statement that Both offices are independently owned and operated as part of the wider RE/MAX Malta franchise network.

It said the vandals had sprayed paint on its CCTV cameras on both properties so the incident was not caught on camera. 

“Vandalism is an act of cowardice,” said Remax Malta Chairman Kevin Buttigieg. “This hateful behaviour towards private property can never be acceptable in a civilised society and we unequivocally condemn it. As members of the local business community, we denounce this act of hate and encourage others to do the same. We firmly believe that aggression of this kind is never the solution; it is completely unacceptable. 

While thanking the many people and businesses who have reached out to offer their support, he said the company was working with the authorities to find out who did this and bring them to justice. 

In May, Nola Café obtained a Lands Authority permit for the platform just one month after the Environment Ombudsman had ordered its removal.

Angry residents had temporarily blocked workers from putting up the structure, overlooking Balluta Bay.

It has taken up five parking spaces and lies over two water culverts as well as a sewage manhole. Residents also feared the platform could cause traffic chaos in the area.