PLG Comfort Food Gentrifier Suffers Multiple Robberies

There are many advantages to being a trailblazing business owner in a gentrifying neighborhood: cheap rents, little competition for under-served clientele, street cred. But there's a downside too: crime. A resident of Prospect Lefferts Garden writes in with the sad news that The Blue Roost, a five month-old comfort food spot was robbed twice in the last two weeks. Last Thursday, someone was able to break in and take everything in the cash drawer. And now, per our reader:

Today, the exact same thing had happened over the night. The cafe's owner, Linda Billings, who'd opened Blue Roost five months ago, was standing outside. She said it must have been the same person who broke in last time. "They knew exactly where the cash box was, and they even stole the crappy cell phone we use on the counter." Last Thursday, Blue Roost had taped garbage bags over the door and remained open for the rest of the day. Today, Linda is not so sure: "I just feel so discouraged."

Blue Roost is a significantly higher-end restaurant for the neighborhood, which would seem to cater toward the more "gentrified" residents of this mixed community.