More than broken glass: the true cost of smashed windows for London business owners

Several small business owners in London, Ont. say that experiencing multiple instances of smashed windows over the past two years has taken a high toll both financially and emotionally.

The price of repairing a smashed storefront can cost thousands of dollars, they said, and it's not always covered by insurance. It can take weeks before a new window or door is replaced due to supply chain delays, and each business CBC News spoke with has had a repeat offence almost as soon as things are put back into order. 

"It definitely hurts any small business," said Richie Bloomfield, co-owner of Sidetrack: A Wortley Café in the city's southwest end. 

"Because of the nature of their size, an unexpected expense is a serious challenge especially given that we just had two-and-a-half-plus years of challenging time for the retail sector in general. Most people understand that the restaurant industry in particular is not running high margins even in a best case scenario. So combining all those factors, you know, an extra $1,500 door is pretty painful." 

The café first opened in 2019 and went almost three years before seeing its first break-in in October 2022. That's when someone threw a water main clamp through the door and nabbed a cash box. 

The new door didn't arrive until January 11. Eight days later, it was smashed again.

The financial cost for damaged and lost property combined was around $4,500, Bloomfield said. That doesn't account for losses incurred while the business paused during regular hours for the cleanup. 

Filing an insurance claim also takes up administrative time. Some business owners may not even make the claim, Bloomfield said, as it risks an increase in premiums.

"It's already almost impossible to get business insurance for a restaurant right now because of the pandemic," said Angela Murphy, owner and executive chef of Grace Restaurant and Bodega. "So we don't make an insurance claim." 

Grace has experienced at least five incidents of smashed windows since it opened, the most recent happening on Wednesday morning. In total, Murphy has spent more than $20,000 on repairs while fighting to keep the restaurant afloat.  

"We're just kind of coming through a bit of a financial crunch and then something like this happens and it just takes the wind out of your sails, I guess, just kind of makes you feel completely out of control and that there's nothing you can do to solve the issues that we have," she said. 

A compromise to employee safety 

Then comes the task of adding extra security measures, said Julia Hou, co-owner of Mr. and Mrs. Bao. The restaurant's first location on Wharncliffe saw a violent rash of smashed windows and break-ins in July, costing Hou and her partner upwards of $10,000. 

Mr. and Mrs. Bao eventually outgrew that space and so far things have been generally quiet at their new location on Richmond Street, save for a few incidents of petty theft. Lessons from the past have been taken to heart, Hou said, and there are now better security systems installed based on advice from CrimeStoppers. 

However with the Wharncliffe vandals still at large, there's been a heavier price that goes beyond the cost of replacing broken locks and windows. 

"I think our employees are very concerned and hesitant about the type of people that are engaging in these crimes because for the most part, we haven't received a definite response from the police or from law enforcement," said Hou. 

"It's definitely really discouraging for employees when they consider whether this is a safe place for them to work." 

'It emotionally affects us in different levels' 

Downtown London's Charminar Indian Cuisine only recently patched up its storefront after experiencing two separate but expensive acts of vandalism since opening in October 2021.

In the first break-in, thieves broke the lock off the back door and cut out copper water piping. The area flooded, and the owners initially paid around $150,000 out of pocket ahead of their insurance claim.  

The second break-in occurred in mid-October 2022. Thieves threw an aluminum garbage can through the front window, which had newly done vinyl work. They went into the store, damaged equipment and took iPads and some cash from the register.

It was hard to keep up the temperature in the restaurant as winter crept in, said part-time manager Sandeep Maddukuri, and there was no choice but to rely on plywood walling during the weeks-long wait for new glass.  

"It emotionally affects us in different levels," said Maddukuri. "Hoping that everything will go in the best way possible, and then realizing that sometimes these things happen out of the blue. For example when the window was smashed that night, we just had a small party because we successfully completed one year of the restaurant and the same thing repeated." 

The owners of Charminar have installed new security measures and are fully invested in moving forward, said Maddukuri, with hopes of competing in London's growing Indian food scene. 

He's also looking into grants offered by the Downtown London BIA and City of London to help with the cost of putting up metal bars around the building. 

It's one of several supports available for downtown businesses that have experienced vandalism, said Barbara Maly, executive director of the BIA. She hasn't noticed a particular increase in windows being smashed in the area, but she said it's always disheartening when it does happen. 

Last year the BIA provided 32 different grants, including a property damage grant and supplier discounts, totalling just over $37,000. Those grants are available again this year until the end of December.