The owners of Damascus Cafe and Bakery in downtown Sudbury are feeling thankful after their fellow business owners joined forces to help raise funds to replace windows damaged by vandalism.
Hussein and Sawsan Qarquoz, the husband and wife team behind Sudbury’s new Syrian eatery, opened their shop in April, with a menu that spans shawarma to mini-pizzas to vegetarian-friendly options like falafel and hummus.
Business was going well, but on May 28, the couple arrived to find their windows had been vandalized.
Greater Sudbury Police said the vandalism reportedly occurred overnight on May 28. The damage was discovered by the owners of the bakery the following morning, and was reported to the police the following day.
The owners of the bakery don't believe the incident was racially motivated.
Police suspect the damage may have been caused by an Airsoft gun.
Jeff MacIntyre, chair of the Downtown BIA, led a small group of people to the Damascus Cafe on Friday afternoon to present the Qarquoz family with a banner and money collected by other downtown business owners to help them get off on the right foot.
“They've unfortunately experienced some vandalism, but all downtowners know what it takes to get a business going, and we felt it was an easy pitch in to get on board,” MacIntyre said. “For any business to experience vandalism is brutal, but when you're a startup, it's that much worse.”
It started with a callout among BIA members to show a bit of support for the Qarquoz family, but then Dennis Gainer from Peddlers Pub offered to pay for new windows.
“It snowballed from there,” MacIntyre said. “We raised thousands of dollars so they can do what they need to do to get off to a good start.”
Hussein Qarquoz, a man of few words, and his family were clearly moved by the gesture. “Thank you, everybody,” the patriarch said.
Damascus Cafe and Bakery is located on Beech Street.
