Hotel desk bells, urns, flamingo glasses, steins and enough silverware to serve a cruise ship — these are just a sampling of things diners have pilfered from Richmond restaurants thus far this year.
Why it matters: Summer is here, and that usually means an increase in crime, including the little (and sometime not-so-little) things people swipe when dining out.
State of play: A certain amount of loss, and the regular pocketing of shot glasses and teaspoons, is expected and kind of comes with the business, local restaurants owners tell Axios.
- But that doesn’t make the theft any less frustrating or expensive, and according to them, it’s happening all the time in Richmond.
Zoom in: Here are a few of the weirdest items diners have stolen from local restaurants.
- 🦩 A flamingo punchbowl from Bar Solita — “it’s the size of a fish bowl, so for someone to take it was impressive… but it costs $75,” owner Liz Kincaid tells Axios.
- 🛎️ The welcome sign at Hotel Greene, along with hotel bells and anything that isn’t nailed down in the bathroom, says owner Jim Gottier.
- 🎱 The 8-ball from the Bingo Beer Co. pool table “goes missing all the time,” per co-owner Jay Bayer.
- 🐖 Pewter pig candle holders from Richmond’s now-closed Morton’s The Steakhouse, which cost about $80 apiece and once went missing in bulk.
Fun fact: That last one was courtesy of a group of doctors dining out on a medical device company’s dime, recalls former sales manager AnnMarie Grohs.
What they’re saying: “People love stealing sh*t. It’s my goal to have sh*t so dope that you feel compelled to take it. Don’t though. Just Shazam my playlist and steal that,” Bayer says…