Crime & Safety
Garden Bistro in Ignacio Trashed by Vandals
Damage estimated at $5,000; restaurant owner says people are always drinking and loitering near bus stop outside her place.
Vandals hit the newly renovated Garden Bistro on Enfrente Road, smashing windows, overturning planters at the front of the restaurant and breaking two fountains in the back patio, according to restaurant manager Nadia Hattar who got word of the damage early this morning.
Hattar said that they are still totaling the damages but it could go as high as $10,000.
Loitering and drinking at the bus stop in front of the restaurant has long been a problem according to Hattar. “This area is not what it used to be,” she said.
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“We’ve begged and pleaded for something to be done but we can’t call it loitering because they’re at a bus stop,” she added.
Hattar said that last week their landscaper's lawnmower and tools were stolen from the back of his truck within minutes of his parking in the lot while he was cleaning up in the back patio.
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Restaurant owner Hilda Hattar was too upset to discuss the situation with reporters this morning. “She’s not taking it so well," said her daughter Nadia Hattar. “It definitely hurts.”
Quick work by the glass company and the restaurant staff, allowed the restaurant to open in time for the Thursday lunch crowd.
“Dotto Glass has been amazing,” said Nadia Hattar. “They cancelled a bunch of appointments and somehow got some special order glass within half an hour of talking with them.”
“My crew here is like family so that always helps,” said Hattar. “…so everyone picked up and swept up and made everything amazing.”
The Garden Bistro underwent a major remodel that included interior, exterior and kitchen upgrades, parking lot resurfacing, signage and menu change over the spring and reopened in June to rave reviews.
