‘Terrible’ break-in pain for GoFundMe cafe

An Armadale cafe owner who turned to crowd-funding in a bid to save his business has suffered another blow after $400 was stolen from a tip jar during a weekend break-in.

Walk Don't Run Cafe’s Tom and Szilvia Elesits have been dealt another blow after a break-in at the Morey St property. Picture: Josie Hayden

Just when things couldn’t get any worse — an Armadale cafe that turned to the web in a bid to stay open has been broken into.

Walk Don’t Run owner Tom Elesits said the cruel blow happened on Saturday, May 25, when a tip jar containing $400 was stolen.

“It made us all feel terrible. To discover that our business was broken into made my heart beat like a drum,” Mr Elesits said.

“Fortunately no-one was hurt apart from the additional stress that is pushing us to our limits during very trying time.

Leading Senior Constable Kendra Jackson said police were investigating the break-in. She said they were not aware of any other Morey St businesses having been broken into on the same night.

Mr Elesits started a GoFundMe campaign to save the business, blaming almost two
years of building work nearby for killing his trade.

Mr Elesits said he had endured a 50 per cent decline in business since construction of Chronicle’s “luxury” apartments began four metres away from the outside dining area in 2017.

As of Friday $1590 had been donated to the campaign, with many people leaving messages of support.

“They deserve to do well — Armadale needs this cafe,” Jenifer Nicholls said.

Beata Bartus said the cafe’s staff were “nice people”.

“(They) deserve all our help, especially in an unfair situation like this,” Ms Bartus said.

“Also a lovely cafe that would be a shame to close down.”

ARMADALE CAFE TURNS TO WEB TO STAY AFLOAT

PRAHRAN CELEBRITY SNIPPER’S NATIONAL TITLE TILT

But Mr Elesits said the cafe’s future remained unclear.

“We will find out shortly if the landlords finally acknowledge the trading difficulties around us or simply not,” he said.

Information to Crime Stoppers on 1800 333 000 or crimestoppersvic.com.au