2 south Charlotte businesses stay thankful after being hit by burglars on Christmas

CHARLOTTE, N.C. — Brawley's Beverage serves up cold craft beer. Neighboring business Pasta and Provisions pumps out fresh pasta.

"It's really kind of like the front porch of Madison Park. It's where everybody kinda gathers," said Michael Brawley, owner of Brawley's Beverage.

The family-owned neighboring businesses are now boarded up in various places after being hit by burglars.

First, it was Pasta and Provisions late Friday night.

"I came in the next morning and saw the front window had been smashed," owner Tommy George said.

George said the thieves got away with some cash. He boarded up the window and was back to business, until it happened again.

"Christmas Eve, 9 o'clock, playing a great game of charades with my family after dinner and I got a call from the alarm company," George said.

Soon after, his neighbor, Michael Brawley, got a similar call from police.

"So it was 9 o'clock Christmas morning. She had just finished opening her gifts," Brawley said of his daughter.

The crook stole cash and smashed an expensive window.

And again Wednesday morning, George said, more shattered glass was found after Pasta and Provisions was hit, again.

"For me, I steer myself toward compassion and forgiveness," George said. "I feel sorry for someone who has to go to those measures just to seek out an existence."

And if you drive by along Park Road, you'll see that compassion written out loud and clear.

On Pasta and Provisions' window, it says: "You broke our glass and stole our money, but our hearts shall not be broken!"

On Brawley's boarded window it says: "Still Thankful!"

"We're still so lucky that we have windows to break, and you look around and people have nothing, so we're still the luckiest people I know," Brawley said.

Both owners are asking the community to keep an eye out for suspicious activity late at night or early in the morning.

No arrests have been made.

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