A Minneapolis restaurant burned to the ground during the riots in May 2020 and now the owner’s delivery van was stolen. Ruhel Islam, a Bangladeshi immigrant, was the owner of Gandhi Mahal, a restaurant that burned down in 2020. Islam got attention after he took to social media saying “let my building burn. Justice needs to be served.” A Go Fund Me was started and raised over $125,000 for Islam to rebuild. The fundraising site reads, “Thanks for your outpouring of support. And for continuing to demand justice for George Floyd.”
Now, Islam’s delivery van was stolen from outside of his home where he had set up a makeshift restaurant for takeout and delivery, Curry in a Hurry, during the rebuilding process. According to FOX 9, “The van was filled with newly purchased catering supplies, kitchen gear, and private business account paperwork.”
The restaurant asked the community to be on the lookout for its van and to call the police if it was seen. It has been spotted around the Twin Cities a few times, but the thief still has not been apprehended. Later in the week after the van was stolen, Curry in a Hurry was broken into and the thief cleaned out their cash register. They reported that around $500 was stolen and it was believed that the person who stole their delivery van was responsible.
The owner of Curry in a Hurry and Gandhi Mahal, Islam, is planning on rebuilding a “community gathering place” where his restaurant stood. He says that the redesigned area will have a restaurant, theater, and artist space. Islam said in a comment to KSTP in December, “The building will sustain for a long, long time and help us continue our work of social justice, racial justice and food security. Healing, peace, you will come in to feel peace. All we want is peace.”
– – –
Hayley Tschetter is a reporter with The Minnesota Sun | Star News Network and The College Fix. She graduated with a degree in Communications from the University of Northwestern-St. Paul. Send news tips to [email protected].
Photo “Curry In A Hurry Van” by Curry In A Hurry.
