Vandals Plague Local Business Set To Close

owner Sue Ellsworth knew what kind of coffee her customers wanted as soon as they entered her shop this morning but she does not know why her soon-to-close business has been targeted by vandals.

Wednesday night someone broke a storefront window at the Burrill Street business, throwing a potted plant at it.

People who live upstairs said the impact caused the whole building to shake, she said.

The spidered-glass window stands next to a similarly spidered window.

Someone threw a bird house at that window last week.

About a month ago someone threw a potted tree at a Cup N Board storefront window, as well. The glass did not break that time.

Each incident took place after the store had closed for the day. The plant, tree and birdhouse were outside the shop by the entrance, left there overnight.

Ellsworth learned about Wednesday night’s vandalism in a call from police.

Originally she thought they were calling about the first window but when she discovered it was another one, the incident added a layer of frustration.

“Oh my God, it’s the second one,” was her thought when saw the broken window, she said. “It just stinks .. cause I know I’m closing.”

The Cup N Board, located across from the, will close next Friday.

Ellsworth opened her coffee/sandwich/specialty store in October after working six years at, a restaurant in town.

The train station location was not right for her business, she said.

Parking is scarce. After the commuters leave for work, business drops off.

The acts of vandalism reinforce her thought that that the location wasn’t the right one, she said.

This morning a succession of morning commuters and other customers sympathized with her when they learned about the broken windows.

Ellsworth has little more than a week left before she closes the shop.

From now on she’ll be taking in the plants at night.