A social media post from a downtown Peterborough business whose front window was smashed over the weekend is getting reactions ranging from support to frustration to outrage.
On Sunday (June 7), La Mesita Restaurante at 247 George Street North just north of Sherbrooke posted a photo of the smashed window, which was vandalized sometime before 4 a.m. that morning.
“Wonder why this happens to many small business(es) in downtown Peterborough,” reads the Facebook post, noting the cost to replace the window will be around $2,000. “Don’t even know what to rant about.”
Chef Martin Carbajal and his wife Kelly opened La Mesita in 2017 to share the dishes he was raised on while growing up in Mexico City, and it has since become a popular destination for authentic Mexican cuisine, serving up street-style and home-cooked tacos, quesadillas, tortas, fajitas, and other bites, available for dine-in or take-out.
In addition to appearing regularly at local farmers’ markets, La Mesita expanded in May to run a food truck called La Mesita Mexican Grill at the Buckhorn Garage at 3192 Buckhorn Road, south of Buckhorn.
By Sunday afternoon, the post about the smashed window had 785 reactions and 260 comments. Many of the comments offered support for the Carbajals while others lamented the state of downtown or criticized the police who, according to the Carbajals, were unable to show up until later Sunday morning.
While some commenters noted that insurance should cover the damage, others responded that the deductible or the impact on premiums might make an insurance claim inadvisable, while some noted that the small business still has to come up with the funds to replace the window even if they are later reimbursed by insurance.
In a message to kawarthaNOW, Kelly said she and Martin don’t know how much it will actually cost to replace the window, as they were only given “a very rough estimate,” but they will not be making an insurance claim.
“I spoke to our insurance agent today and she told me it’s not worth putting through as a claim, because of what it will do to our insurance rates and possible future insurability,” Kelly said.
Several people have suggested launching a GoFundMe, while others encouraged people to patronize the business.
“I am so humbled by the outpouring of the community,” Kelly said of the reaction to the Facebook post.
Those who want to help out the Carbajals with the window replacement can send an etransfer to info@lamesita.ca.
The original version of this story has been updated with a message from Kelly Carbajal.
