Lavash Café, a Mediterranean restaurant in Clintonville, was vandalized Sunday night with racist graffiti.
In recent Instagram and Facebook posts, owners shared that graffiti was removed after local residents alerted the store Sunday night.
The restaurant shared photos Monday of graffiti on the windows of the front door and new vinyl bakery door. Store co-owner Dr. Jamal Latif said the words on the front entrance appeared to say "Join the KKK."
Latif said the vandalism likely occurred right after the store closed Sunday night.
"We close at 8 p.m., and employees usually leave around 8:15," Latif said in a telephone interview Monday. "Someone saw someone walking back and forth with a backpack, which was kind of weird."
Latif said the store plans to file a police report.
Latif said a Clintonville resident messaged the store Sunday night after noticing the graffiti and community members volunteered to help with the clean-up. Nearby stores such as Beechwold Ace Hardware and Curb Appeal Clean also offered their services.
The photos were accompanied by a caption thanking the community and the hashtag "Fight Racism Together."
"It sucks sitting there at 7 a.m. rubbing it out of the window, but for someone to even DM us about it is a reminder that we have each other's backs," Latif said.
The restaurant, located at 2985 N. High St. in Clintonville, serves Middle Eastern and Mediterranean cuisine and first opened in December 2008. Store owners Nasir and Jamal Latif opened a bakery in 2022 next door at 2995 N. High St. in an effort to offer the community a "gateway to our culture."
According to Latif, the store has faced several incidents of hate crimes and speech in the past. Latif said their van had been vandalized, and people had entered the restaurant yelling slurs against the Middle Eastern community, including, "All Palestinians should go die."
"It's unfortunate, but we just kind of ignore it," Latif said. "The Clintonville community has always been welcoming."
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