The blaze is believed to have started in a deep fryer, before spreading through the rest of the shop.

Businesses on either side of the Main Street store were not damaged.

A post on the Silver Key Café Facebook page, which appeared to be written by one of the owner's children, said the family was “devastated". 

“(Owner) Dawn (Leahy) is devastated clearly beyond words,” the post read.

“Silver Key Cafe is a lifestyle not many people would choose, but one of so many happy family memories.

“I have no words to say how heartbroken I'm feeling right now, let alone how my beautiful mother is coping.

“Please support Dawn as she has always been here for Rutherglen and pretty much the whole district.

“I'm hoping our cafe will be open again very soon.”

Fellow Rutherglen business owner, Robyn Tanner from the Rutherglen Lolly Shop, said news of the fire had been deeply saddening.

“I actually feel sorry for the community, and especially the kids,” she said.

“My children practically live in there, and (Dawn) is very good to the kids.

“They'd go there after school and share some chips, that sort of thing.”

Rutherglen Football and Netball Club president Greg Lumby said the Silver Key Café had been long-time supporters of the club.

“It's a real blow for the town, to lose a business that's been there for so long and is so well respected,” he said.

“They've been enormous supporters of the club from day dot, certainly since I was a young kid – it will be badly missed.

“There's a lot of memorabilia and collectables the family had on the premises, some of that was priceless, they'll never see it again.”

Mr Lumby said he expected the Rutherglen community to rally around the shop in the coming weeks.

“They've been a part of the town for so long, I hope they can rebuild or refurbish it now,” he said.

“I know the town will certainly support them in their endeavours to get it going again.”

No one was injured in the blaze.