Edmonton bar vandalized for 3rd time during pandemic; anonymous donor pays to fix smashed window

A bar in downtown Edmonton was vandalized for the third time during the COVID-19 pandemic, with one of the owners waking up to news the front window had been smashed in.

Rob Browatzke, the owner of Evolution Wonderlounge, believes the attack was random vandalism and not targeted. But that doesn’t take the sting of having to repair damages for a third time.

Browatzke says someone walking by decided to come up and kick the glass.

“Not the first business downtown that has had random vandalism lately and certainly not the first time here,” Browatzke said. “We lost the door a couple times over COVID and now the window.”

https://twitter.com/EvoWonderLounge/status/1493653122098417664

After posting a picture of the vandalism online, Browatzke says there was concern that it was a targeted attack but he was quick to turn that down.

“I thought maybe it was targeted because of the rainbow flag in the window or the masking sign on the door, you never know,” he said. “But this one does seem like a random thing.”

A silver lining for the lounge: because of the social media post, an anonymous follower reached out to Browatzke and sent a cheque to cover the cost of replacing the window.

“They were like, ‘just send me the invoice’ and I did, and they paid for the entire amount. So they just wanted to reach out and change something that was annoying and frustrating into something that is wonderful.”

https://twitter.com/EvoWonderLounge/status/1493723271837065217

Cabinet minister and Edmonton Centre MP Randy Boissonnault addressed the situation on Twitter.

“This is the 3rd time in 12 months that EVO has had to replace a window,” said Boissonnault. “I spoke with Rob. We both agreed that coming out of the pandemic, governments need to work together to address mental health and homelessness issues and continue to support small businesses.”

Edmonton police say there have been three reports of broken windows and other vandalism in Edmonton’s downtown core just this month, with multiple businesses affected.

All three incidents led to arrests, including the broken window at Evolution Wonderlounge.

Police are asking all businesses to report all vandalism.