Pro-LGBTQIA+ Businesses In Manayunk Victims Of Vandalism

MANAYUNK, PHILADELPHIA — Manayunk is a tight-knit community with a bustling restaurant and business scene.

But a few businesses on busy Main Street said their outward displays of support for the LGBTQIA+ community has led to vandalism.

Recently, Crust Vegan Bakery had a rainbow pride flag flying outside its door ripped off.

Video showed two young men in Eagles gear giddily going after the flag, which has long represented the LGBTQIA+ community.

Owner Megan Benz said the incident occurred at 2 a.m. the Tuesday after the Super Bowl.

The issue, she said, isn't about an inexpensive item being vandalized.

"It's a flag that cost 10 bucks," she told Patch. "It's more about ill intent and hate."

Just down the block on Main Street from Crust, City Of Paws Pet Care has been the repeated victim of possible anti-LGBTQIA+ criminals.

Owner Danny Offenbacher said pride flags outside the business have been stolen numerous times.

"We've had our pride flags stolen every year we've put them up," he said in an email to Patch.

Offenbacher has an idea as to what kind of person is involved in the vandalism.

"It's often drunk people after a night of drinking or nights after an event day on main street where there are a bunch of non-locals," he said.

Benz echoed Offenbacher's statement.

"It felt like they were being drunk and s****y," Benz said of the vandals who went after her flag.

And it's not just displays of support for the LGBTQIA+ that have been the target of vandals.

Offenbacher said his business had a planter vandalized more than once.

"We just recently decided to get rid of [the planter] because it was becoming too much of a hassle," he said.

Benz said Safa Tea House, also on Main Street, has had planters vandalized.

And planters can be costly.

"These small businesses are going into their pockets to make nice displays," she said.

While the motive of vandals who hit these businesses will likely never be known, other business's cameras have captured homophobic language being used by vandals to hit their property.

Benz and a large portion of her staff are members of the LGBTQIA+ community, and she aims to create a workplace where team members feel safe and appreciated.

"Since it's repeatedly had homophobic undertones, it's people who are in some way harboring hate," she said. "I don't think it's specifically targeted. I don't think it's premeditated. It's unnecessary and juvenile."

Benz opted not to widely share photos and videos of the vandals who went after the flag, but did say those who are aware of the incident have shown support for the business, which moved to Manayunk in 2020 after launching in 2015.

"Everyone has been really supportive," she said.