VANCOUVER — Ryan Chilibeck, owner of Famoso Neapolitan Pizzeria in Vancouver, has boarded his windows after they were allegedly smashed by an anti-gentrification group who are claiming responsibility.
The Famoso owner is now looking into more than $20,000 in security measures to keep his restaurant in Vancouver’s Commercial Drive neighbourhood safe.
The restaurant is located in a business area that’s being transformed with new restaurants and condos. “The Commercial Drive Business Association business plan was to spruce up the street a bit more, so having people install metal shutters is heading in the wrong direction. It’s not physically appealing for people walking down Commercial Drive,” Chilibeck told news1130.com.
Last month, Pidgin, a high-end eatery on Carrall Street, was swamped with protestors arguing the restaurant is too expensive for many of the city’s residents. “We’sve got to find a way to say how do we work together to make this a better neighbourhood?” co-owner Brandon Grossutti told CBC News. “Rather than take this effort and all this passion against us, how do we draw everyone in the conversation?”
