The owner of The Gnome Craft Pub in St. Paul says burglars broke into his establishment and stole the contents of the safe early Sunday morning while staff were in the building.
Brian Ingram, funder and CEO of Purpose Restaurants, shared a video of the burglary along with images showing a ripped out window and a ransacked liquor storage room.
Ingram said the burglars broke in around 4 a.m. Sunday while a cleaning crew was inside the restaurant. According to the St. Paul Police Department, about $1,300 was reported stolen.
“I’m mad as hell,” Ingram said. “My team could have been hurt. Someone could have been killed. This is not normal. This is not acceptable.”
Just over a week earlier, another business on Selby Avenue, Solo Vino Wines, had been broken into, with $300 reported stolen. SPPD said both cases remain under investigation, and there is no suspect information at this time.
Sunday’s incident was the third reported burglary at The Gnome since February 2021, according to SPPD data.
Back in 2022, Ingram testified before Congress about how crime had negatively impacted his St. Paul businesses, including Hope Breakfast Bar, The Gnome, and the now-shuttered Apostle Supper Club.
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Dining and Cooking