An East Portland vegan grocery store, Food Fight!, is grappling with the fallout of a significant theft. According to KOIN 6 News, the store's refrigeration unit was vandalized, resulting in the theft of copper and leading to extensive damage estimated in the thousands of dollars. The store is a well-regarded establishment in the Gateway District, cherished by the community for its offerings and service. "I bought this shirt like last week and I was really surprised in The Dalles somebody goes, ‘Oh, ‘Food Fight!’ they’re so nice!'" recounted customer Sheila Dooley, as detailed by KOIN 6.
The magnitude of damage from the theft surpasses any sporadic acts of vandalism the store had previously experienced. Beth Sullivan, the store's owner, was struck by an unusual sight last Friday morning which clued her into the incident. "This recent incident has incurred a lot more cost than the occasional broken window or lock in the past," Sullivan stated. In response, Sullivan has taken to starting a GoFundMe page to raise enough money to cover the insurance deductible for the repairs. The theft has been reported to the police.
The store, which Sullivan has owned for a few years, has faced other types of vandalism and break-ins, but the damage to the equipment was unforeseen. "I didn't think that there was that much of value, and I don't really think there is much value worth of copper in there — but now we know," Sullivan explained, as quoted by KGW. The addition of security measures, such as fencing, lights, and cameras, is expected to bring the total recovery expense to approximately $15,000.
Despite the setback, the store has witnessed an outpour of support from its devoted clientele. Following an appeal on social media, patrons showed up en masse to purchase still-cool items. "That was our largest sale date since we took over ownership of the store," Sullivan acknowledged. The inventory includes a wide variety of vegan provisions, which has been somewhat limited due to the refrigeration unit being out of service. "We sell anything you can think of that's not vegan, can be made vegan, and we sell it here," Sullivan described in a report by KPTV.
