Witnesses said multiple people filled two cars full of clothing from the store. In less than 10 minutes, the thieves stole more than $60,000 in merchandise.
“The sad part is the victims are small businesses and people who are trying to put resources back in the community. It’s like a treadmill you keep running and running and never get anywhere,” said the owner. With insurance premiums at $1,500 a month, he said repeated break-ins are making it impossible to survive and don’t cover all the costs. “For me it's like, how do we get more patrols or more people to take care of the businesses that provide for people who work?” said Umunna.
While the shelves are almost bare right now, Ummuna said his commitment to building up the community remains. His goal is to bring positivity to the city through artist events and pop-ups. “For people that look like me, there is not always a platform for them. Some things have to be so refined to get into certain doors. So, we kind of give people with a lower access level to the finer things,” he said.“It takes a village, it takes all of us,” he said.