Vandalism on Burlington's Church Street adds to growing frustration for downtown business

Vandalism of a downtown Burlington storefront this past weekend has left the owners with broken windows and frustration.

As Thorn + Roots was preparing to close this past Saturday night, an individual came down the street and started throwing the restaurant's patio furniture at its windows. The person shattered the windows and then continued "causing destruction" down Church Street, according to co-owner Allen Caruso.

Thorn + Roots is located on the Church Street Marketplace between Bank and College streets. The eatery is on a mission to provide Burlington residents and visitors with healthy food options, including smoothie bowls, pressed juice, salads and more.

Caruso said they have found it hard to focus on that mission with growing crime in downtown Burlington, and what he believes is a "lackluster response" by the Burlington Police Department.

Caruso said they called the police after the incident and were directed to fill out a police report online. Caruso is frustrated with the lack of immediate response, questioning what proactive measures the city will be taking to address these issues and ensure Burlington is safe.

An issue like this is not new for Thorn + Roots, and likely not for many of the businesses downtown.

"In the last year, our restaurant has been robbed, we’ve had someone overdose, found needles in the bathroom, and now this," Caruso said. "It’s hard enough to find employees who want to work downtown with all the safety issues, and now, with such a lackluster response, it’s even tougher."

Caruso calls for more police presence downtown, and if there aren't enough officers after the department was downsized in June 2020, then the Vermont National Guard should establish a presence on Church Street to "deter this behavior."

He also hopes that with the change in the mayor's office, this "big undertaking" to ensure Burlington's safety will be prioritized. For now, he's hoping to pick up the pieces of the broken storefront for the spring season after a long and hard winter.

Burlington police had not yet responded to a request for comment at the time of publication.

This story may be updated.

Sydney P. Hakes is the Burlington city reporter. Contact her at SHakes@gannett.com.