Downtown Lexington Coffee Shop Targeted by Vandalism

LEXINGTON, Ky. – In the heart of downtown Lexington, a beloved coffee shop, A Cup of Common Wealth, woke up to a disheartening sight on Sunday morning. Around the crack of dawn, the shop’s alarm system sprang to life, alerting the staff of a broken window. It led to another episode of vandalism that is becoming frustratingly familiar for the team. Manager Emma Bryant said, “We’ve had it happen multiple times with multiple different windows.”

Upon arriving at the shop, the staff discovered the chaos left behind. Several rocks littered the floor inside, remnants of the act meant to shatter the corner window located right at the intersection of East Main Street and Eastern Avenue. Although the scene was troubling, there was a silver lining, “Luckily, this time it was just one window instead of multiple. Obviously, not an ideal situation, but it could have been a lot worse,” stated Bryant.

Fortunately, the vandal had no intentions of stealing anything this time around, as nothing was disturbed inside the shop. Instead, it seemed to be more about breaking the window than anything else. “I think they were more trying to break the window than do anything else,” said Bryant. The police responded quickly and confirmed they had arrested a local, 47-year-old Devona Mitchell, charging her with criminal mischief 1st Degree.

This latest incident marks another troubling chapter in the shop’s story. The same corner window has faced damage numerous times in the past, and Bryant expressed her disappointment: “It’s definitely a bummer. It would be nice to have all of our windows stay intact. I think spending money on glass is not an ideal way for a small business to be doing things because we have functional windows. We don’t want to have to keep replacing them over and over again.”

Despite the ongoing challenges, A Cup of Common Wealth is known for its resilience and positive spirit. In an effort to bring some humor into a frustrating situation, the staff decided to put up an unofficial “historic site” marker by the damaged window. “We wanted to take a little bit of silliness and add it to the situation to add some levity,” remarked Bryant. Their ability to find light in the dim situation is a testament to their character and commitment to the community.

As the business remained open despite the damage, customers will find caution tape and wood pallets where the broken window once was. “Still here. Maybe drawing a little bit more attention than we typically would on a Sunday morning,” laughed Bryant. The coffee shop continues to serve its community with the same warmth and charm that keeps regulars coming back for their favorite brews.

As locals stop by for their caffeine fix, they are also engaging in conversations about community safety and the need to support local businesses. “It’s sad that this keeps happening. This place means a lot to us,” said one customer, who preferred to remain anonymous. Community members are rallying behind A Cup of Common Wealth, expressing their support during this tumultuous time.

This incident serves as a reminder about the importance of community support for local businesses that labor tirelessly to serve their neighborhoods. Whether it’s a morning coffee run or a chat with the barista, every small interaction adds to the fabric of Lexington. Bryant remains hopeful that this latest vandalism won’t define their coffee shop’s legacy. “We want to keep being a welcoming place for everyone, and we won’t let this get us down,” she concluded.

As investigations continue, the community will keep its eyes peeled for any further changes. However, one thing is clear: the folks at A Cup of Common Wealth are not going anywhere. They will continue to serve freshly brewed coffee and laughter, even if it means dealing with the occasional broken window along the way.