‘Good prevails over evil’ at South Boston shop Love Child after robbery before Christmas
The holiday was like a “Hallmark Christmas movie” for one Southie retail shop after a reported robbery and a chance encounter between the store’s owners and a neighbor led to a record sales day for the small business.
The “roller coaster” began Friday evening when a teenage girl wearing a blue surgical mask ran into Love Child — a home decor and liquor store on West Broadway — and allegedly stole three bottles of Tito’s Handmade Vodka, a Boston Police spokesperson told the Herald on Monday.
The girl ran out the door and took off with a man, whom authorities said was at least 18 years old, on a moped toward the Broadway T stop.
Boston Police responded to a report of the larceny at around 7:45 p.m.
As the dramatic scene unfolded, employees — organizing baskets in the store at the time — called co-founder Colleen Dunleavy who was about to dine at Capo Restaurant, a block away, and informed her of the incident.
By serendipity, it turns out Dunleavy received the call in the right place at the right time.
Southie resident Mark Rooney, who had just met Dunleavy and her spouse, overheard the call and saw them rush out of the restaurant. Then he took to Facebook later Friday night, capturing the interaction and incident.
“Like you reading this, I felt (and) feel so bad,” Rooney wrote. “A young couple, taking a chance, opening and trying to make a small business work. For those of us who grew up here, if a neighbor was in need, we all responded.”
Rooney mentioned he’d be stopping by the shop on Saturday “to make a purchase” and challenged neighbors to follow suit.
“Whether it’s tomorrow, or sometime in the near future, I ask that you do the same,” Rooney wrote. “Let our new friends know that Good prevails over Evil, every time!”
“They have no idea that I’ve posted this,” he added, “perhaps the uptick in business over the next days and weeks, will uplift their spirits, and produce more, regular customers. … Not looking for Likes or Comments…just a visit and small purchase at Love Child.”
Love Child made an Instagram post Sunday evening highlighting all that the store had been through.
“Ohhh where do we even begin? The past few days have been an absolute roller coaster of emotions and it has ended in the best possible way,” the post reads. “Honestly like a Hallmark Christmas movie.”
The “best possible way,” as in, a record-breaking sales day Saturday, the post stated.
“And when we tell you Southie showed up for us, they SHOWED UP,” the post read. “We are overwhelmed with gratitude for this support. It is the best demonstration of community that we have ever experienced.”
The post concluded with, “Thank you, thank you, thank you. We are honored to be a part of this community. Wishing everyone a Merry Christmas, and as Mark reminded us, ‘good prevails over evil.’ ”
Boston Police had made no arrests in the incident as of Monday afternoon.
from Boston Herald https://ift.tt/dPSTJ3C
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