Loyal customers of a north Edmonton convenience store that was damaged by an excavator during a break-in late last month held a cash mob Wednesday night to drum up business for the local store.
On Sept. 27, police were called to Sherbrooke Grocery on 121 Avenue and 127 Street after an excavator was used to tear a giant hole in the side of the building. The thieves then got away with the store’s ATM.
It happened at around 2:30 a.m. when the store was closed, so no one was injured.
Despite the massive hole in the building, shop owner Mijung Suh opened the store as usual that morning. Due to construction in the area, Suh had been forced to close her store for six days the week before the robbery and she didn’t want to cause further burden to her regular customers.
“This is a very old community, so for them I didn’t want to give them another hard time,” she said on Sept. 27. “If I closed here again and they have to go far from here, it’s inconvenient.”
READ MORE: Excavator used to break into north Edmonton store and steal ATM
In hopes of providing the store with a boost in business, local customers planned a cash mob Wednesday evening.
Geri Marchant is one of the organizers of the event. She lives about two blocks away from Sherbrooke Grocery and said it’s a staple for the community.
“I really hope that she feels supported and know we all have her back, and she doesn’t need to worry about anything and we will always be here for her,” Marchant said.
“She is really important. I really want her to stay open. She’s one of those few ‘mom and pop shops’ that are left open.”
“A lot of people don’t drive in our community so she is the only store that you can go to to get milk at the last minute, bread, unless you’re willing to drive all the way down to Kingsway.”
The cash mob, which encourages people to come to store and shop, started at 7 p.m. People were asked to meet at Prince Charles Park at 124 Street and 121 Avenue to sign a card for Suh, then everyone walked to the convenience store together at around 7:30 p.m.
Some brought flowers and hugs for the owner, as well as cash to boost the business. Suh was caught off guard by the show of support.
“Thank you for all of my community people and all of my customers. Thank you,” she said.
Police said the excavator used to bust through the wall of the shop was stolen. No one has been charged in the theft.