‘I was so shocked’: Local barbecue joint creates GoFundMe page after burglars steal all of its meat
-
Last week, burglars stole meat, produce and inventory from local barbecue restaurant 225° Urban Smoke. The thieves took off with all of the barbecue restaurant’s food.
Last week, burglars stole meat, produce and inventory from local barbecue restaurant 225° Urban Smoke. The thieves took off with all of the barbecue restaurant’s food.
Photo: Facebook: 225 Urban Smoke
Last week, burglars stole meat, produce and inventory from local barbecue restaurant 225° Urban Smoke. The thieves took off with all of the barbecue restaurant’s food.
Last week, burglars stole meat, produce and inventory from local barbecue restaurant 225° Urban Smoke. The thieves took off with all of the barbecue restaurant’s food.
Photo: Facebook: 225 Urban Smoke
When one of the co-owners of 225° Urban Smoke showed up to work last Thursday morning, he was “shocked” to see an empty storage room with no meat, produce or inventory. Samuel Ransom said all of the barbecue restaurant’s food was stolen overnight.
Ransom said security cameras showed burglars broke into the restaurant located at 1015 Rittiman Road at around 2:30 a.m. and didn’t leave until about two hours later. The thieves, who haven’t been caught, wiped out the store, stealing cases of brisket, pork, chicken, wings, lettuce, milk, cheese and bread.
It is unclear how many people were involved, but Ransom said he believes “multiple people” were part of the crime. The restaurant owner added that all the food they lost is estimated to be worth between $12,000 and $15,000.
READ ALSO: San Antonio restaurant owner says he’s received worldwide support for not reopening after CNN spot
“They took everything,” Ransom said. “I was so shocked. We couldn’t even open the next day … we were running around like a circus trying to get bread and products to open up because we didn’t want to let them win.”
The barbecue business has kept its doors open for curbside and delivery since the coronavirus pandemic started. Since March, Ransom said it’s been a struggle as he has laid off more than half of his staff.
Ransom and his partner Daniel Jimenez, who opened the location last June, created a GoFundMe account Saturday to help replace the items that were taken. As of Wednesday afternoon, the page has raised nearly $1,500 of its $15,00o goal.
“It’s eye-opening and humbling to see people rally around us and help us during this time,” he said. “People are coming in and ordering a ton of food and just showing us love. It lets you know that there are still good people out there.”
Although restaurants are allowed to reopen at 25 percent of its capacity, 225° Urban Smoke has kept its dine-in area closed. The establishment is still selling its food for curbside and delivery.
The establishment is open daily from 11 a.m. to 9 p.m. For ordering information, call 210-444-9956 or visit 225urbansmoketx.com.
Priscilla Aguirre is a general assignment reporter for MySA.com | [email protected] | @CillaAguirre
