Philadelphia restaurant owner alleges harassment by neighbors

The owner of a new restaurant in Philadelphia says she has faced harassment since she opened her business.

Details: Philadelphia restaurant owner alleges harassment

Shakeira Turner opened Chubby Chicks Cafe in the Center City neighborhood a  little over two months ago, a move to expand from a smaller space in New Jersey.

But almost immediately after moving in, she alleges the harassment began.

Turner says several things have happened, including a sign being stolen, coffee poured under her door, her bathroom being flooded, and dead rats being left outside her business.

“It[the dead rats] was in front of the store every day for three days, Turner told ABC 6 Action News.

Turner said even someone asked her if she received money from “her drug dealer baby daddy” to fund the business.

Who is responsible?

It’s unclear who’s responsible but Turner says her upstairs neighbors, residents of a condo building, have complained about her business to her landlord.

Turner says she hosts a DJ and karaoke on Saturdays and Sundays but that ends at 3 p.m., and she maintains the music is kept at an acceptable level. She also says complaints have been made at times when her business isn’t open.

“Sending letters to my landlord making false notices that we’re open way past the time that we are open, or that we’re blasting music really late at night. We’re only open until 3 during the week,” Turner said.

In a statement to Action News, Turner’s lawyer, Stephen Pina, said in part, “It’s unfortunate that almost since the day the restaurant opened, a few people have been focused on shutting it down by making offensive and untrue claims.”

“Why? Why? Please leave me alone,” Turner said.

Philadelphia restaurant owner to install cameras

Turner says neighboring businesses have been an ally and supportive, and as a result of all of this, she’s now installed a video surveillance system.

Collins says the Condo Association has approved the installation of their own cameras as well.

Turner says she has no plans to move but says her new neighbors have made her feel unwelcome and uncomfortable.

“It makes me wonder, ‘Did I dream too big? Was this too big? Should I have stayed where I was?’ That makes me super sad and it’s heartbreaking,” Turner said.