In this post, I wanted to share an experience and reflect a bit, as a situation affected us more than I realized at the time. It is about a late-night break-in that had deeper ripple effects beyond broken glass and missing beer.
A few days ago, on the morning of our grand reopening party, we walked into our newly renovated restaurant and found shattered glass, beer-soaked floors, and smeared walls. This was supposed to be our special BIG day. The day that we were going to welcome our community back in, to showcase all the hard work we had put in, and enjoy our brand-new space.
We cleaned as fast as we could and literally tried to scrub away the anger and disbelief. We went into autopilot and did what all small business owners do… Smile through it and get back to work. We had the bands booked, the balloons blown up, and we did not have time to process what had happened. We ended up throwing a great party, and the outpouring of community support was incredible.
As things have settled over the last couple of days, customers have kindly asked us what happened and whether anything was taken. And we can truly answer, really not much. But the knot in my stomach hasn’t gone away, and it’s taken time to realize that what we did lose was the sense of safety and security in our own space.
We have had many conversations with customers who have shared similar stories. Two reckless pre-teens burned down a couple’s business, and another couple woke to an intruder inside their bedroom. The alarming similarity that I have noticed is that the fear and hurt are still so raw, as if they happened yesterday.
These experiences are far more than just a financial loss, and they are much more prevalent in our communities than we may think. Stories of vandalism and break-ins are increasingly common. The ripple effects go far beyond fixing a window or replacing beer. Homes and businesses are more than just buildings. They’re sanctuaries, livelihoods, and places where people should feel safe.
So, while this experience has shaken our sense of security, Burrito Grill is like our home, filled with care, energy, and love for our staff and customers. And we will continue to build on that. Thank you for your continued support.
From our kitchen to yours,
Chantel, Burrito Grill
