Aline Rondeau, 84, looks over the damage at Everybody’s Favorite Family Restaurant in Cumberland, where she helps her two sons, the owners.

The Providence Journal / Bob Thayer

CUMBERLAND — Left intact at Roberta’s Hair Salon is a pair of oversize scissors hanging from the front light post. It’s painted sunshine-yellow to welcome customers.

But the real cutting shears, shampoos and blow dryers inside the Mendon Road business were destroyed by fire Tuesday night. Holes in the burnt roof and façade greet guests now.

A second fire began a short time later at Everybody’s Favorite Family Restaurant, less than a mile up the road. The firefighters were nine minutes into battling the salon blaze when the 11:47 p.m. emergency call for the restaurant came in.

Although that fire was put out quickly, the place sustained heavy smoke damage and food was tossed out of pantries, freezers and refrigerators. It all needs to be replaced and the building cleaned before reopening.

Deputy Police Chief Michael Kinch said both incidents are suspicious, particularly because of the proximity of the fires, in time and location. The state fire marshal’s office is assisting in the investigation. No one was in the buildings at the time of the fires.

“Five [employees, including her] out of work right before Christmas,” salon owner Roberta Loureiro said yesterday as firefighters and others surveyed the damage. “Like we need this with today’s economy.”

The salon at 1150 Mendon Rd. has been open for 15½ years.

Her appointment book was burned as were her files with the clients’ phone numbers. And she said with all the parties and family get-togethers in the works, there had been many calling to get beautified.

“I have nothing, absolutely nothing,” she said. “Everything’s gone.”

Yet Loureiro hopes to still make her customers “happy for the holidays.” They can call (401) 334-5747 to make other arrangements.

“I am going to get a place to get you done,” Loureiro told client Claire Goodreau, who gets a color and touch-up every three weeks. She had a 2 p.m. appointment yesterday.

“This is my favorite. She’d better find some place soon,” Goodreau said.

Like many others, the longtime regular asked if she could help in some way. Other salon owners have called to lend support and donate hair styling tools and products. A cousin even dropped off a lottery ticket.

“We are a family here,” Loureiro said.

Donald Rondeau, who runs the restaurant with his brother Larry, said their business is also family-oriented with many regulars. One comes in every day and recites the news from The Providence Journal before anyone has a chance to read the paper. They call him “Projo.” Another is the Rondeaus’ 84-year-old mother, who arrives at the end of the day to help clean and chit chat.

Known for their oven-baked omelet specials on the weekends, the diner has been open at 1370 Mendon Rd. for 12 years.

“Someone broke into a side window and trashed the place,” Donald Rondeau said yesterday while an insurance agent toured the building with Larry. “They didn’t steal anything. They just threw the food all over the place and lit a fire. Who would do something like that?”

The fire — which was set by igniting plastic on the stove — didn’t burn anything, Donald Rondeau said. A professional cleaning company was on scene yesterday, but restocking may take a while.

“We want to open up in a week or so,” he said. They have 10 employees. “Well, hopefully, sooner with Christmas around the corner. It’s our sole income, so it’s not good.”

apina@projo.com