Black-Owned and Operated Coffee Shop Repeatedly Vandalized in Lemon Grove

March 22, 2021

City Manager Lydia Romero
Lemon Grove City Hall
3232 Main Street
Lemon Grove, CA 91945

Re: Black-Owned and Operated Coffee Shop Repeatedly Vandalized in Lemon Grove 

To City Manager Lydia Romero,

We, the NAACP San Diego Branch, need to know what steps have been taken in regards to upswing in vandalism and what has the city done to increase patrol or discuss surveillance equipment on the main street? 

On March 14, 2021, the exterior windows of The Hamlett Coffee Shop located at 7801 Broadway were smashed at 12:27am, Saturday morning and they are trying to find out who is responsible.

This is the second time within a 6-week period that The Hamlett Coffee Shop has been attacked. The first incident occurred on February 5th, when three windows were purposefully shattered, leaving the business exposed and vulnerable to further damage.

The Hamlett Coffee Shop was originally slated to open its doors to serve the Lemon Grove community on January 1st, 2021, but postponed its opening due to the reinstatement of the COVID-19 Stay-At-Home order. These recent acts of violence compounded with the impacts of COVID-19 have continued to push the business’ grand opening date and have created a great financial strain on the business and family. 

We also need the captain of the Sheriff’s substation to respond with the policy and procedures as to when vandalism of over two Black businesses, with one having a message left behind, gets classified as a hate crime? 

The NAACP San Diego Branch looks forward to hearing from you.  

Sincerely,

Prince Sefa-Boakye, Chair of Legal Redress Committee
NAACP San Diego Branch

Cc: Mayor Racquel Vasquez