I was happier when crooks targeted homes, my chances were better. Now 2 places I have eaten at, Joey's in Wynwood (August 29th) and a few miles away Luna Star Cafe in North Miami (early August), have been targets of armed robbers. Luna Star actually had a shot fired and the customers were robbed too. Both joints had 3 armed robbers. A McDonald's was also robbed in July at 15096 NW Seventh Avenue and in June a Chili's Restaurant at 174th Street near Northwest 57th Avenue. In these 2 cases there were 2 men carrying handguns. Like the other two robberies, they ordered all the patrons to the floor. Can you imagine lying on a dirty, disgusting restaurant floor?
Mario the Baker on West Dixie Highway in North Miami has paid an off duty cop for at least 20 years and it has been an effective crime deterrent. The Luna Star had $500 in the register. Hardly enough to pay a cop $35 an hour to stand out front. The Chili's claimed they had $600 (that I don't believe).
Will I go to Joey's or Luna Star at night anymore? Probably not. I have been going to trendy restaurants in the downtown at night. I don't think I will anymore. The police have to do better. In the case of Wynwood, this is a struggling new neighborhood trying to find its footing. There should be a policeman on foot at night. They say the incidents are isolated but tell that to a customer looking for a place to eat...won't fly. This is deadly PR.
P.S. Just found another restaurant armed robbery (3 robbers with an assault rifle and handguns): The Doral Ale House, the end of April 2011. And a reader said a Taco Bell on 163rd Street was robbed with patrons again face down on the floor (163rd Street) in July. They had assault rifles. Are we seeing a bad trend?
17 comments:
Policemen have feet?
Flat ones.
Luna Star Cafe has been around for a very long time. As a former resident of a Condominium on NE 123rd in North Miami, it was one of the first Cafe's open across the street from the Museum. It was a huge risk (before the facade improvements along the NE 125th St. corridor) and am just so upset that someone would rob them and their patron's.
As to the Chili's, where that is located, it wasn't so surprising.
Nothing will keep me from Luna Star. Best beer and music in town. It begins to look like this can happen anywhere - so I just may not carry much money and will leave valuables at home. But I won't stop enjoying the kinds of places that make Miami so interesting.
Does the word "north" suggest anything to you in your restaurant selections?
Well, watch the budget hearings And watch the federal gov on jails... The tax rate is gonna b a issue... Money has be spent on the jails and we can't start closing jails if they are overcrowded. The county is in deep crud.
What of NORTH? Are you saying that the North of the county is lawless? How about your infamous FBI Street shootings down South? How about your murder at the mall down South.
The entire county should be safe, not pockets of the County.
Let us also not forget the Miami Beach police shootings in the streets with tourists all over the place. Safety is not to be had in Miami.
The whole county has its share of crime waves. Remember when tourist rental cars were targeted at the airport? This might be the newest crime wave, targeting people dining.
How about we educate criminals to target bad restaurants only. Picking the Luna Star was a bad choice for them, money wise and Joey's has pretty good food. We have to teach them to be more selective.
There has been problems for a long time in NM and the police everywhere need to do better.
Let a Casino set up shop in a tough neighborhood. I bet the hold-up rate of restaurants will drop pretty quick.
M
Yes, the police should do more with less. And the taxpayers should demand it. Cut their numbers, reduce their budget and expect them to be on every corner to protect the taxpayers who refuse to give them one extra dime.
Bravo!
Get used to it.....that's dangerous business going after bad guys with guns.... Foot patrols in Wynwood and the Design District so that whiny rich people can dine safely? I suggest you stay home and order delivery. In regards to bad PR, don't worry there has never been a shortage of dumb tourists that will continue to wander into shark infested waters.
You mean like the dumb tourist sleeping in a hotel room with a dead body under his bed? "I think there is an odor in my room..."
And I am not whiny.
I'm not giving up on Luna, that can happen anywhere.
I am new to Miami and obviously dont know many area's here. However in news I find that mostly north areas are more prone to crimes. Why is that??
I"ll have to move somewhere in North West area after 4months from my current south west locationand i am already scared.
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