'Just angry': Popular Burnaby ice cream shop speaks out after window smashed
A recent vandalism incident at a popular Burnaby ice cream shop has prompted the owner to speak out about safety in the neighbourhood.
Glenburn Soda Fountain and Confectionery posted a video to its social media channels showing a person who “decided to take his anger out on three small businesses in one night.”
In the video, a man can be seen kicking in the glass door of Glenburn, located at 4090 Hastings St., sending shards flying.
The vandal also lashed out at neighbouring establishments, Chao Mami and Panino Mio.
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“Burnaby Heights has faced far too many broken windows, break-ins, vandalism, and numerous other criminal acts, with the perpetrator facing little or no consequences,” said Glenburn in its social media post.
“We’ve got to sell a lot of sundaes to pay for the replacement of the glass in our door. Itās not a small thing to us.”
According to Roberta LaQuaglia, co-owner of Glenburn Soda Fountain, the vandalism happened around 4 a.m. on Sunday, Sept 6.
Glenburn Soda Fountain and Confectionery
“A citizen seen on our surveillance called in the damage about 7:50 a.m.,” explained LaQuaglia. “We were called by RCMP around 8:20 a.m.
“He kicked in the window of our door at Glenburn, and it will be $1,000 to replace it.”
The Glenburn owner told Daily Hive that while other businesses near them have had their windows broken or vandalized, the incident at the ice cream shop feels different than some others that have happened in the neighbourhood.
“This gentleman was just angry and looking for a place to take out his anger,” said LaQuaglia. “He was not homeless or poor, stealing to sell to help him survive. He was a privileged man who didn’t run away after he broke our door.
“He stood around with his friends without any fear of being caught or being held responsible for his actions. He felt safe sticking around, and there’s something wrong with that.”
Glenburn Soda Fountain and Confectionery
Isabel Kolic, executive director of the Heights Merchants Association, shared that episodes of vandalism and criminal acts come in waves or spikes, and have been particularly elevated in the last five years.
“It’s unfortunately all-too-common in a business district like ours, and certainly other B.C. commercial districts suffer from the same issues,” said Kolic. “The causes and issues are very complicated, and often it’s the small businesses that are left shouldering the financial and emotional costs of these sorts of incidents and episodes.
“Frankly, many small business owners are extremely fatigued by it, as it is eroding their ability to make a living doing what they do, and many are left feeling like their business has been violated and harmed, which it has.”
Glenburn Soda Fountain and Confectionery
The Heights Merchants Association has several safety initiatives for its nearly 400 member businesses, including regular safety advisory committee meetings, an open phone line with the City of Burnaby’s Public Safety department, and a 24-Hour Security Alert that is e-mailed to all businesses whenever a crime is reported to the association by BIA members.
“Whenever any business calls us with security or safety issues, we elevate it to the City and the RCMP,” said Kolic. “We are also a member of the Business Improvement Areas of BC Board of Directors, which has been advocating to all levels of government, pleading for more support for small businesses struggling with these issues.”
The ice cream shop asked anyone who recognizes any of the individuals in the footage shared online to report any information they may have to the Burnaby RCMP.
LaQuaglia also thanked everyone for their support online and in person.
“We’ve been overwhelmed by the support from our community through the Instagram post and other channels. We know our community has our back and supports its small businesses, and for that we are deeply touched and thankful.”