Help Oriental Pantry After Burglary & Break-In
Donation protected
Oriental Pantry is a small Korean family restaurant located in the East Rock neighborhood of New Haven, run single-handedly by Ms. Yoonock Kim. Established in 1985, Oriental Pantry is the first and oldest Asian grocery store in New Haven. Oriental Pantry is a beloved community hub for many diners and shoppers. Students, residents, and visitors from all over Connecticut can attest to Ms. Kim’s delicious cooking, hospitality, and passion for sharing Korean culture.
Late in the night on Saturday, March 21, 2021, an unidentified person robbed Oriental Pantry, shattering the front glass door and entering the shop. The total cost of damages is over $1000. The robber damaged the cash register and stole $200 worth of cash from the store before fleeing the scene. No merchandise was stolen. Luckily, no one was hurt and Ms. Kim was not at the store at the time of the break-in.
In addition to this break-in, like many other small businesses and restaurants, Oriental Pantry has been greatly affected by the COVID-19 pandemic. Business has been extremely slow for more than a year now, and Oriental Pantry has been struggling to stay open. Ms. Kim is the only employee at Oriental Pantry, running the shop single-handedly every day, and coordinating cooking, inventory, and service. Because of these financial difficulties, she has had to delay rent payments for the past two and a half months. She has already exhausted all of her resources, including government loans and grants, and this unexpected incident is just the latest financial struggle in an already difficult year.
As one of the few pan-Asian stores in Connecticut, Oriental Pantry’s wide range of items and services are a critical resource for our community. With the spike in racism against Asians and Asian Americans during the pandemic, it's more important than ever for Oriental Pantry’s food, hospitality, and programming to reach the minds and hearts of people.
Funds will go directly to repairing the door & cash register, installing security cameras or other features, and supporting business operation costs.
Thank you so much for your support.
Late in the night on Saturday, March 21, 2021, an unidentified person robbed Oriental Pantry, shattering the front glass door and entering the shop. The total cost of damages is over $1000. The robber damaged the cash register and stole $200 worth of cash from the store before fleeing the scene. No merchandise was stolen. Luckily, no one was hurt and Ms. Kim was not at the store at the time of the break-in.
In addition to this break-in, like many other small businesses and restaurants, Oriental Pantry has been greatly affected by the COVID-19 pandemic. Business has been extremely slow for more than a year now, and Oriental Pantry has been struggling to stay open. Ms. Kim is the only employee at Oriental Pantry, running the shop single-handedly every day, and coordinating cooking, inventory, and service. Because of these financial difficulties, she has had to delay rent payments for the past two and a half months. She has already exhausted all of her resources, including government loans and grants, and this unexpected incident is just the latest financial struggle in an already difficult year.
As one of the few pan-Asian stores in Connecticut, Oriental Pantry’s wide range of items and services are a critical resource for our community. With the spike in racism against Asians and Asian Americans during the pandemic, it's more important than ever for Oriental Pantry’s food, hospitality, and programming to reach the minds and hearts of people.
Funds will go directly to repairing the door & cash register, installing security cameras or other features, and supporting business operation costs.
Thank you so much for your support.
Organizer
Yoonock Kim
Organizer
New Haven, CT