8 GROUNDCOVER NEWS AROUND TOWN Earthen Jar — family restaurant targeted? Near the corner of 5th and Liberty lies a unique place — Earthen Jar, the family-owned Indian restaurant that has been operating since 1997 and offers a unique experience. Serving buffet-style food, its entire menu is kosher-certified and either vegetarian or vegan. In addition to an upcoming expansion into Ypsilanti along West Michigan Avenue, it also offers a variety of packaged meals that can be found at various markets throughout southeast Michigan. In the past few months, however, Earthen Jar has had to deal with an onslaught of incidents. In December 2022, a fire broke out in an apartment on the second floor of the building that houses Earthen Jar. Although no one was harmed, the fire caused $20,000 worth of damage to the building and the surrounding areas, and marked the start of the streak of bad luck for the restaurant. Two break-ins in rapid succession followed soon after the fire — the first on December 29, and then, the very next day there was another. This trend of multiple break-ins happening within a short time of one another continued on January 5 and January 8. ROBERT COULTER U-M student contributor Everything from clothes to cash to a television was stolen by the perpetrators; “Literally whatever they could take,” said Sim Sethi, a manager for the restaurant. Just 10 days later, on January 18, there was another break-in. On that very same day, a break-in was reported at a neighboring location — although, as it was uninhabited, the break-in likely occurred earlier. From the limited evidence that seems to exist — security photos and suspect descriptions — it appears that the break-ins have been committed by multiple people and aren’t connected to one another. According to the strategic communications manager for the Ann Arbor Police Department, Chris Page, there was “nothing new in the investigation that indicates the burglaries are connected” and the police department is unsure as to why there have been so many burglaries in such a short time. On February 13th, the building experienced its sixth break-in in fewer than two months. The restaurant’s management has expressed disappointment and frustration with the police department for its failure to make any inroads into catching suspects and putting an end to the break-ins. “I think this is the straw that broke the camel’s back. I don’t think we will stay here if this kept[sic] happening,” said Sethi, and with an upcoming expansion into Ypsilanti, there may be dwindling motivation to keep the Ann Arbor location open. Sethi stated that he feels they are being targeted — why? He does not know — and he is unsure if that may be a sign that Earthen Jar shouldn’t remain in Ann Arbor. A small, family-owned business that has been around for roughly 25 years is on the brink of leaving the city due to a nearly unimaginable string of Earthen Jar is located in the heart of downtown Ann Arbor. break-ins — what may this be suggesting about life in Ann Arbor? If nothing else, the direct targeting of such a business represents a disappointing direction for Ann Arbor. It should be universally condemned by the citizens, who should support Earthen Jar to help them after such struggles. APRIL 21, 2023
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