SPOKANE, Wash. — A Spokane County business is feeling the frustration and financial burden after a weekend vandalism.
At the Little Garden Cafe location at Whitworth University, you can clearly see the damage after a window was shot overnight on Saturday.
Even though things haven't been so rosy, co-owner Faith Alderete has been keeping a sunny disposition. Alderete said Saturday was the third time in six months that Little Garden Cafe has been vandalized.
Someone shot out the front glass of the cafe Saturday night, but the double-pane kept them from getting inside. "That's the frustration; it's just destroying peoples' stuff," Alderete said.
Alderete knows she is not alone. She has heard other small businesses like Wall Street Diner have been hit, too. "It's hard," Alderete said. "It's hard on small businesses because it's not simply replacing the window, it's how are we going to pay for that? And most likely, you're going to have to cut hours and payroll."
The last window fix cost around $1,500. And solidarity with other small businesses doesn't pay.
Or maybe, it can.
Chap's bakery staff is working overtime to help Little Garden. "We're going to be doing scones and cookies and basic pastry," Celeste Shaw, owner of Chaps, said.
All of these will be for sale on Thursday, July 11, at whatever price tag customers choose to give.
For Alderete, it's a shining example, but for Shaw, who also had windows shot out, it's an example of another kind. "We may not be able to do a huge amount or give a huge donation or pay for something, but can we share their posts, can we donate a little something?" Alderete said.
"There has to be a stronger voice to recognize this is a problem, and I think that starts by us standing together and saying look what's happening," Shaw said.
It's one Shaw hopes comes with accountability for those behind the destruction. "I think it's more than monetary, I think there's a safety component here that is really terrifying," Shaw said.
On Thursday, you can purchase Chap's pastries at Little Garden's Whitworth cafe or the Audubon cafe to help them pay for window repairs.
DOWNLOAD THE KREM SMARTPHONE APP
DOWNLOAD FOR IPHONE HERE | DOWNLOAD FOR ANDROID HERE
HOW TO ADD THE KREM+ APP TO YOUR STREAMING DEVICE
ROKU: add the channel from the ROKU store or by searching for KREM in the Channel Store.
Fire TV: search for "KREM" to find the free app to add to your account. Another option for Fire TV is to have the app delivered directly to your Fire TV through Amazon.
To report a typo or grammatical error, please email webspokane@krem.com.