DiPietro declined to elaborate on police investigators’ earlier statements that they have a suspect in the burglary and vandalism. The restaurant remains closed, and DiPietro said his department’s investigators are awaiting a detailed list of what was stolen, vandalized or damaged before determining dollar estimates.
Cena owner Eva Brcic-Christian said Tuesday that the vandalism was “a very malicious thing to do” and said she feels bad for the more than 30 employees who are now out of work because of the incident. It will take “probably about a month” to repair the damage, Brcic-Christian said. She said she should have a better timetable for reopening after meeting with insurance adjustors next week.
The computer system, phone system, floors and furnishings were damaged, Brcic-Christian said. Fixing the damage “will probably be like opening a new restaurant,” she said.
The restaurant owner said Cena had been on the rebound. “After we reorganized, things were going so well,” she said.
But according to a monthly operating report required to be filed with U.S. Bankruptcy Court in Dayton, Cena in September generated $41,539 in income — $33,561 less than projected for the month — and had $55,799 in expenses, resulting in a loss of $14,260. In October, the restaurant generated $56,332 in income — $18,768 less than projected — and had expenses of $73,095, resulting in a loss of $16,763, according to court records.
Brcic-Christian said, “Some of those reports are inaccurate,” and said the restaurant’s cash flow improved in October and November. The monthly operating report for November has not yet been filed.
Two days before Christmas, National City Bank — which is owed about $245,000 from a $381,000 loan it made to Cena in 2006 — filed documents with the bankruptcy court saying the restaurant failed to make three agreed-upon payments of $5,000 a month that were due Oct. 15, Nov. 15 and Dec. 15.
Brcic-Christian said she and her attorney were just made aware of the bank’s claim and said confusion over an automated payment system may have contributed to the filing.
The Cena owner — who also owns Boulevard Haus, the former Cafe Boulevard in Dayton’s Oregon Historic District — sent an email to customers Monday night, Dec. 28, thanking them for their messages of support.
“It is devastating and disappointing to have to deal with this at this time, especially (because) this was the busiest time of the year for us,” the email said. “I am just glad that nobody (was) hurt; it could have been worse.”
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