Chef Melissa Araijo was driving to her restaurant in the new New Orleans Bywater neighborhood when her phone rang.
The general manager had called to report there was no need to come into Alma Cafe day. In total, $8,000 worth of items had been stolen from the modern Honduran restaurant during the overnight hours of September 11.
Alcohol totaling $3,000 -- most of which was the finest rum, tequila and mezcal on the market -- was gone, along with a safe full of cash and checks.
Araijo, who developed her concept for Alma Cafe in New Orleans after cooking in Italy for six years, could only use one word to describe how she felt after that phone call.
"Frustration."
The burglary took place on the day that Hurricane Francine lashed through Louisiana and made landfall near Morgan City. Araijo told The Times-Picayune that Alma Cafe, located in the former home of Paloma Cafe, was forced to only partially reopen due to losing internet and power for days and lacking supplies from the theft.
The restaurant closed its door again on Tuesday and Wednesday to pay workers and compensate employees after the thief attempted to cash checks that were in the safe. It went back to normal operations on Thursday, Sept. 26.
Araijo describes the last couple of weeks as "a dread" while the restaurant continues to battle losing thousands from the theft, two days of revenue during the closure and a slow summer.
"This is a time where hopefully we're busy enough where people can come in and out to support," Araijo said.
The burglary remains under investigation, and a suspect has yet to be identified by the New Orleans Police Department. Araijo said that she will do everything she can to fight through the recent hurdles that her four-year-old restaurant has faced.
"I am a fighter," Araijo said.
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