Blenz Coffee launches lawsuit against rioters

VANCOUVER – Blenz Coffee launched a lawsuit against rioters on Thursday after they smashed its store windows and traumatized its franchisee partner and employees.

Blenz is the first downtown Vancouver business to file a lawsuit.

George Moen, President of Blenz Coffee, said the emotional trauma sustained by his franchisee and employee is what triggered the lawsuit and not the property damage.

"We want to make sure our franchisee has full restitution and we want the rioters to be held accountable," Moen said. "They ruined the lives of our employees and franchisee."

A franchisee, two employees and a customer were trapped for more than two hours in the backroom of a Blenz store on Georgia Street after rioters smashed its windows.

"They were in fear of their life," Moen said. "It was clear the next morning when I got together with her that she was incredibly shaken, and that would be an understatement."

Moen said the franchisee not only lost her store, which won’t be reopened for at least three more weeks, but her car was torched that night.

Two other downtown Blenz stores have reopened. But the Georgia Street store will not be opening for at least another three weeks, said Moen.

"Every window was broken. All of the refrigeration was broken. All of the chairs were thrown about and broken. Our expensive espresso machine was trashed. Cash registers were broken and now have to be reordered," he said of the yet-to-reopen store.

Moen said there could be as many as 150 lawsuits, but wouldn’t disclose names of the accused, because they are still in the process of identifying those responsible.

"We have some names," he said, adding that in-store security cameras and videos and photos from social media are making the job simple.

"All you have to do is go online," Moen said. The proof is all there, he added.

He said the civil suits will take a long time to sort out, and he hopes that those involved would come forward on their own.

"Those who come forward and take responsibility for their actions will be treated differently from those who hide – and we will find them."