PORTLAND, Ore. — Business owners in Southeast Portland are getting overwhelmed with recent break-ins. One restaurant has been broken into twice in just the last week, and another had to pay over a thousand dollars after someone smashed one of its windows.
The latest vandalism at Café Rowan in Portland's Woodstock neighborhood happened this past weekend with a broken window. Since owner Spencer Ivankoe opened the farm-to-table restaurant three years ago, he said he has spent close to $10,000 on replacing windows and a door that were smashed.
“It’s still $1,200 dollars every single time for a window," said Ivankoe. "For the door, it’s $3,000, so we just don’t know what to do."
In the nearby Sellwood neighborhood, it's a similar story for the owner of Philadelphia’s Steaks and Hoagies. He told KGW they’ve been broken into twice in the last week. Despite spending thousands to keep people from breaking in, he said, people have still found a way.
After this weekend's break-in, Ivankoe took his frustration to social media, criticizing Mayor Ted Wheeler and city leadership for what he described as "no leadership, no accountability, no assistance" for business owners.
"My posts over the weekend were directed at city officials," he told KGW. "Without all these small businesses, the city is hurting right now."
After his post, the mayor's office reached out, Ivankoe said, and both sides have plans to meet later this week to discuss what can be done to prevent the break-ins.
“Overall the community here especially the neighborhood is really special," Ivankoe said. "Opening up during the pandemic three years ago and still being here is special, we don’t take that lightly."