A fire at Mainstreet Wanganui's workshop is being treated as suspicious.
Firefighters were called to the Watt St building at 9pm on Monday, after a blaze started at the side of the building.
A fire service spokesperson said the cause was being investigated, but it was suspicious. "It was started from the outside."
The building was charred on one side but escaped severe damage.
Fire investigators were at the scene yesterday.
Mainstreet chairwoman Doreen Hardy said it was lucky no items inside were badly damaged.
"I think it's very disappointing, but we're very fortunate it's property, not people," she said.
While it would make it harder with access to the workshop, staff would continue to operate as normal, she said.