MEMPHIS, Tenn. — The owner of the Front Street Deli in Memphis expresses his disappointment in a thief, that burglarized his business over the weekend.
Many businesses are suffering and trying to stay open during the coronavirus pandemic, which includes Front Street Deli. So, when Jon Hodge received a phone call from the police telling him his business had been broken into, he was in complete disbelief.
“Being a struggling business here in the downtown area this kind of stung a bit,” Hodge said. “We’ve been closed here, and we haven’t been able to open back up. So, this was really the icing on the cake.”
The alleged thief is seen on a surveillance camera, coming into the deli shop shortly before 3 a.m. on Saturday. The person went to the safe and took an undisclosed amount of money. Hodge says he believes the person used a key or a tool to get inside.
“Given the amount of glass that was on the exterior, I personally believe that this glass was broken afterward to make it look like there was a full break-in here,” Hodge said.
Businesses across the Mid-South have been hit hard by the effects of the coronavirus pandemic, including Front Street Deli. Hodge says with so many closures downtown and the numerous events that were canceled, it has been very tough for his business. He says it has been hard to try and reopen.
“Summertime, unfortunately, is our gravy time,” Hodge said. “So, those are the times that we need to actually survive the winter.”
Hodge says now that his deli shop has been vandalized, the future of his business is uncertain. Hodge says the shop has been listed for sale for quite some time, initially attracting many potential buyers, but he says since the pandemic many have taken a step back.
And now that a portion of the remaining funds were stolen, he says he does not know what he will do. But he is seeking justice, by actively working with the police, trying to find the person that broke into Front Street Deli.
If you have any information, contact Crime Stoppers at 528-CASH.
