SAN DIEGO — The Tierrasanta community is showing its support for Tutuli Mexican Eatery, a family-owned restaurant that was burglarized just three weeks after opening.
On Small Business Saturday, customers visited the eatery.
Tutuli, along with three other food-service businesses in the area, fell victim to a burglar earlier this month. Surveillance cameras captured images of the suspect, described by police as a man between 20 and 35 years old. The burglar caused damage to the restaurant and stole approximately $6,000 from the safe.
"After that everything changed for us, we thought it was going to be tough to come back," said Alejandro Ochoa, owner of Tutuli.
The Ochoa family, who invested their life savings into opening the restaurant in October, feared they might not survive the setback. However, the community's response has been overwhelming.
"I'm so thankful and I'm so blessed to be here in this area right here," Ochoa expressed, visibly moved by the outpouring of support.
Customers like Jason Schoenfeld have been bringing friends to dine at Tutuli.
"Well I'm thrilled that they're still here," Schoenfeld said. "It's always sad when your community gets criminalized like this and they're the victims of this kind of stuff."
"The food is fantastic they have some stuff on the menu that you don't get at other places," said diner John Buzzard. "I love mole, they have phenomenal mole."
Patrons praised not only the restaurant's authentic flavors but also the warmth of its owners.
"Absolutely terrific, the proprietors are wonderful people, the food is authentic, a lot more authentic then you're going to get in other places," Schoenfeld remarked.
For the Ochoa family, the community's response has been priceless.
"With all of these people around us, all this kindness that's all around us.... I can't really express my gratitude to all of them," Ochoa said.
Police are still investigating the burglaries that affected several businesses in the community. Anyone with information is urged to contact Crime Stoppers at 888-580-8477.
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