Restaurant raising funds to help Lansing-area eateries affected by string of break-ins

LANSING – The owners of a Lansing restaurant are raising money to help fellow area eateries victimized in a rash of break-ins.

"It seems like restaurants are being targeted, and we don't know why," said Travis Stoliker, co-owner of Saddleback BBQ, which started a GoFundMe campaign to benefit at least six restaurants targeted by burglars in recent weeks.

As of Tuesday afternoon, more than 180 donors had contributed a total of $6,885.

Stoliker said the proceeds will be distributed equally to restaurant owners who experienced a break-in and want to be included. None of the money will go to Saddleback, which hadn't experienced a burglary, he said.

Stoliker said the list includes Good Truckin’ Diner, Goodfellas Bagel Deli, Weston's Kewpee Burger, Social Sloth Cafe and Bakery and Gump's BBQ, all of which are in downtown Lansing or Reo Town. Also on the list is 102 Pho & Bahn Mi, a Vietnamese restaurant in Okemos.

He said he was trying to confirm that another restaurant on South Washington Square also had a recent break-in.

Lansing police Public Information Director Robert Merritt confirmed that police have taken "a few" reports of commercial break-ins over the past week but did not elaborate. 

In a July 25 Facebook post, Goodfellas said a break-in the night before resulted in some delayed orders "and an overall messy day."

On Monday morning, also on Facebook, Good Truckin' Diner said its DoorDash tablet was stolen in a break-in the night before, rendering it unable to complete DoorDash orders.

Autumn Weston, owner of Weston's Kewpee Burger, said someone broke into her business on South Washington Square late last week, damaging the heavy back door, breaking into the cash register and stealing a small amount of cash.

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"It's not like there's a cash register store where you can just go out and buy one, so we're making do the best we can," Weston said. "We've had people offer to buy us a cash register. That makes it a little less heartbreaking. Our community has totally showed up for us, so we show up for them,"

The break-ins are especially difficult because they've come on the heels of a pandemic that particularly hurt restaurants, Weston and Stoliker noted.

"The industry is hurting enough as it is, and it's just unfortunate," Weston said, quickly adding that she won't let it bring her down. "They might have broken my cash register and my door, but they did not break my spirit," she said.

Contact Ken Palmer at kpalmer@lsj.com. Follow him on Twitter @KBPalm_lsj.