SPOKANE, Wash. — It’s been one week since the Dear Coco Café was broken into – and the Spokane Police Department has made an arrest as the business struggles to recover.
The police department said Shelby Lamphier was arrested last Friday night after the break in. She’s facing charges including second-degree burglary. Meanwhile, Shaw said her business is trying to make up for an estimated $15,000 loss.
“For a small business like this – with an increased minimum wage and labor and costs of goods – it’s a loss that I hope we can even navigate our way out,” Shaw said.
The business owner said that when her employee arrived at the café Friday morning, the employee found the suspect in the building. According to the police department, the suspect stole $85 in cash and pastries.
Shaw said the overall loss was more extensive since the business had to discard its food, install new equipment and close for several days. She also said the break in took an emotional toll on her staff.
The break in comes amid Shaw’s battle with a serious illness. She said she’s living with a brain lesion, lung issue and autonomic condition that left her hospitalized for a week – including during the break in.
“The timing was just so shocking,” Shaw said. “I was mostly just devastated that I couldn’t be there to support my staff.”
Shaw is still in and out of the hospital, and she said she’s been moved by customers reaching out with words of encouragement.
“People in the community have been amazing,” Shaw said. “The cards, the letters and flowers – just reminders that you’re not alone has been just the greatest way to stay positive and be uplifted to the point of wanting to continue to fight hard to go forward.”
Among the customers looking to support the business was Kate Hart. She said she’s known of Shaw for years and has visited the other businesses she founded – Chap’s and Lucky Vintage Shop – but she visited Dear Coco to support Shaw after the break in.
“I just can’t imagine one hurdle after another that she’s been through and just the fact that people would do that period — but to this darling, beautiful little space,” Hart said.
Shaw said that she’s trying to move forward from the break in.
“I’m hoping that we can just find a way to come out on the other side in a positive way,” Shaw said.
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