The proprietors of Just Chillin’ Bar and Grill have picked up the pieces and started over in the aftermath of a nasty break-in discovered early Tuesday, February 10.
The cozy establishment located just off the highway at the west end of Ajijic was hit by crooks who made off with a flat-screen television, kitchen equipment, the empty cash register and most of the liquor stock, and left the place completely trashed to boot.
In addition to the missing loot, co-owners Juan Carlos Abrego, his spouse Renée Yarto and her sister Paulina found the refrigerators disconnected, perishable foods tossed all over the place to spoil and more than a dozen empty Gran Marnier bottles ominously dumped on the floor in a circular pile mixed up with their business cards, municipal license and shredded menus.
They interpret the theft and damages as a sign of intimidation left by someone who holds a grudge against them, possibly a rival restaurateur miffed at their instant success in the highly competitive local market.
Since it opened last November, Just Chillin’ has turned into hot-spot for expat and Mexican clients who rave about its tasty food, reasonable prices and friendly atmosphere. But apparently these merits also quickly caught the attention of an unknown adversary who fired off a menacing email suggesting that the young entrepreneurs pack up and leave because they weren’t welcome in town. They didn’t think much of the message at the time, but now take it as a veiled threat of vile acts to come.
Abrego and his sibling partners are hailing the Chapala police force and state authorities for their prompt response to the ugly heist, including a thorough examination of the premises and collection of forensic evidence by crime scene investigators. They also express immense gratitude to loyal customers who immediately pitched in to help them clean up and regroup for re-opening two days later.