Fears for shop owner after fatal Vic fire

Fears persist for the life of a Melbourne man whose clothing shop was razed by a fatal fire.

An autopsy will determine the identity of the body found in the ruins of the shop, Fetish, in Fitzroy's hip Brunswick Street on Tuesday following the early morning blaze.

Detectives and firefighters spent Tuesday combing through debris, broken glass and scorched mannequins as they investigate the cause of the fire that engulfed the shop and an attached residence about 4am on Tuesday.

The body was found at the back of the shop, but police say they are awaiting autopsy results before the victim can be identified.

Police have been unable to contact the owner, who concerned neighbours say is an "older, hippy man".

Locals congregated outside the store just before midday on Tuesday, wanting to know if the owner was safe.

Next door neighbour and friend Hiro said the pair often spent time together.

"I'm not sure if he's alive; I'm so worried," he told AAP.

Inspector Wayne Newman said he was unaware of anyone else living at the property.

The cause of the fire is not yet clear, he said.