Business owner who moved to US with $700 says restaurant was vandalized days before grand opening
How did your country report this? Share your view in the comments.
Diverging Reports Breakdown
Business owner who moved to US with $700 says restaurant was vandalized days before grand opening
Mohammad Alhayek immigrated to the United States from Jordan in 2017. He worked his way up to cook and dedicated everything he learned into his restaurant. Vandals smashed TV sets, lights, tablets and the kitchen’s sprinkler system. He estimates the damage is around $35,000 and he doesn’t have insurance, so everything is coming out of pocket.Springdale police are investigating the break-in. The restaurant is located on Springfield Pike in Springfielddale, Ohio, near the Ohio-Kentucky border. For confidential support call the Samaritans on 08457 90 90 90, visit a local Samaritans branch or click here for details.
He poured everything he had into the grand opening of his new restaurant before vandals struck last week.
With only $700 and a dream, Alhayek was so close to welcoming people inside Mr. Hayek’s Fish & chicken.
“Coming to America, I have a big dream. I want to open a restaurant. I want to open more businesses. I like food,” Alhayek said.
A small business owner’s Ohio restaurant was broken into just before its grand opening.
Alhayek came from Jordan in 2017 and said that he took on any job to save up, including washing dishes, cutting hair and shoveling snow.
“People sometimes mention to me, ‘Man, come on. Your mind is only business.’ I say, ‘Yeah, that’s what I have in my mind, you know?’” Alhayek remarked.
He worked his way up to cook and says he dedicated everything he learned into his restaurant.
“I have experience for everything,” Alhayek said. “My experience, all of it, I put it in one menu.”
When he found the place on Springfield Pike, it needed work, but he was OK with putting in some elbow grease.
Alhayek said that the space now looks like he didn’t do anything before the vandals struck last Tuesday.
They smashed TV sets, lights, tablets and the kitchen’s sprinkler system.
“Today ago, if you saw me now, I’m broke. My heart broke, seriously,” Alhayek said. “But right now, I’m a little bit better, seriously.”
There are five security cameras on the building. Alhayek says all of them were cut and the two interior ones were unplugged.
The security system was also destroyed.
Alhayek said that he doesn’t have insurance, so everything is coming out of pocket. He estimates the damage is around $35,000.
He started a GoFundMe and people have been sharing his story on social media.
“Everyone who has a dream, don’t stop. Someday you do it,” Alhayek said. “I’m very happy in Cincinnati now, even more than I loved Cincinnati before when I came in 2017. Right now, I love them more because of the nice community.”
Though the vandals took Alhayek’s grand opening from him, he still got to experience community in a different way.
Springdale police are investigating.
Copyright 2025 WKRC via CNN Newsource. All rights reserved.
Business owner who moved to US with $700 says restaurant was vandalized days before grand opening
Mohammad Alhayek immigrated to the United States from Jordan in 2017. He worked his way up to cook and dedicated everything he learned into his restaurant. Vandals smashed TV sets, lights, tablets and the kitchen’s sprinkler system. He estimates the damage is around $35,000 and he doesn’t have insurance, so everything is coming out of pocket.Springdale police are investigating the break-in. The restaurant is located on Springfield Pike in Springfielddale, Ohio, near the Ohio-Kentucky border. For confidential support call the Samaritans on 08457 90 90 90, visit a local Samaritans branch or click here for details.
He poured everything he had into the grand opening of his new restaurant before vandals struck last week.
With only $700 and a dream, Alhayek was so close to welcoming people inside Mr. Hayek’s Fish & chicken.
“Coming to America, I have a big dream. I want to open a restaurant. I want to open more businesses. I like food,” Alhayek said.
A small business owner’s Ohio restaurant was broken into just before its grand opening.
Alhayek came from Jordan in 2017 and said that he took on any job to save up, including washing dishes, cutting hair and shoveling snow.
“People sometimes mention to me, ‘Man, come on. Your mind is only business.’ I say, ‘Yeah, that’s what I have in my mind, you know?’” Alhayek remarked.
He worked his way up to cook and says he dedicated everything he learned into his restaurant.
“I have experience for everything,” Alhayek said. “My experience, all of it, I put it in one menu.”
When he found the place on Springfield Pike, it needed work, but he was OK with putting in some elbow grease.
Alhayek said that the space now looks like he didn’t do anything before the vandals struck last Tuesday.
They smashed TV sets, lights, tablets and the kitchen’s sprinkler system.
“Today ago, if you saw me now, I’m broke. My heart broke, seriously,” Alhayek said. “But right now, I’m a little bit better, seriously.”
There are five security cameras on the building. Alhayek says all of them were cut and the two interior ones were unplugged.
The security system was also destroyed.
Alhayek said that he doesn’t have insurance, so everything is coming out of pocket. He estimates the damage is around $35,000.
He started a GoFundMe and people have been sharing his story on social media.
“Everyone who has a dream, don’t stop. Someday you do it,” Alhayek said. “I’m very happy in Cincinnati now, even more than I loved Cincinnati before when I came in 2017. Right now, I love them more because of the nice community.”
Though the vandals took Alhayek’s grand opening from him, he still got to experience community in a different way.
Springdale police are investigating.
Copyright 2025 WKRC via CNN Newsource. All rights reserved.