The owners of a pizzeria on St. Laurent Boulevard were left stunned after it was vandalized late Saturday night.
George Abou Faissal, who owns Milano Pizzeria with his brother, said that when he arrived at 6 a.m. on Sunday to prepare for the breakfast rush, a mess of glass awaited him.
“Usually, I come in first thing in the morning, as early as possible, so I can prep and get ready to open,” he said. “So I come around and throw open the door, and I see the window is smashed and glass is everywhere.”
The building was vandalized, with swastikas and racist language spray-painted along the outside and surrounding pavement. The restaurant’s alarm did not go off because the sensor was damaged in the attack, Abou Faissal said.
George Abou Faissal, who owns Milano Pizzeria on St. Laurent Boulevard, says he arrived at work Sunday morning to find swastikas spray-painted along the outside of the building and the restaurant’s front window smashed.
He said he has never experienced an incident like this in the pizzeria’s 27-year history and he was surprised by the the racist messages.
“I still don’t understand. I’m still in shock. I never thought that could happen to us,” he said. “We’re good people.”
He said he believes the attack was random.
Police said their hate and bias crime unit is investigating a “mischief incident that occurred.” The investigation is in the early stages, police told CBC in an email.
Community quick to help
Community members were quick to jump into action once word spread of the incident.
Abou Faissal said he was brought almost to tears when friends and frequent customers began showing up with supplies to help.
The messages were quickly painted over and scrubbed off the pavement. The broken window was also boarded up. Abou Faissal said he hopes they can start more permanent repairs.
“I’m very glad that I’m in this community because they show a lot of support and I’m very thankful for everybody,” he said.
The pizzeria remained very busy on Monday as customers flocked to the restaurant to show support or leave donations.
“We just heard about it this morning. So the only thing that we could do is come here and … have a meal,” said Jeff Schneider, who often visits the restaurant with friends.
“I was really, really surprised that that sort of thing would happen in our area here.”
Many told CBC the restaurant and its owners are important fixtures in the community.
“I feel really sorry for the owners. I know both (of) them well and they’re good people, hard-working people, and it’s unfortunate,” said Bruce Anderson, a friend of the owners and frequent customer.
‘Antisemitism is not welcome’
Alta Vista councillor Marty Carr, who also has been a customer at Milano, said that while it was “disheartening” to see such hatred, she’s glad people could lend a hand.
“We are a diverse community and acts of hatred are not welcome here,” she said.
“What we’ve seen at Milano Pizzeria in the community is important. People are coming together and supporting one another and and letting it be known antisemitism is not welcome here.”
Abou Faissal said he would like to explain to whoever caused the damage that antisemitism is harmful.
“We pray for them. Maybe God will give them some wisdom.”