Julia Domna Owners in Shock After Break-in
Front door smashed and cash register stolen during robbery
Diana Bashour and her husband Samir after the break in. Picture: Instagram
August 21, 2024
The owners of a popular Lebanese restaurant in Putney have spoken of their shock after a recent break in.
Julia Domna on the Lower Richmond Road had its front door smashed and cash register taken in the early hours of Sunday 11 August.
The restaurant is owned and managed by Diana Bashour and her husband Samir who both moved to the UK from Syria two decades ago.
The door needs to be completely replaced with a wooden hoarding protecting the premises in the interim.
The incident has left Diana questioning the future of the restaurant. She told LBC, “We woke up on Sunday morning, with two missed calls, after working in the restaurant all day on Saturday. We had a catering appointment for a lady living locally, so my husband walked to the restaurant”.
When he arrived, he called her straightaway telling her, “I don’t know what to say, someone has broken our door and robbed the restaurant”.
Diana didn’t believe him at first but when she joined her husband at the premises, they couldn’t gain entry and had to call a number left by the police to gain access.
The glass of the door was scattered everywhere and there were coins all over the floor which had fallen out when the cash register was taken. The thief or thieves did however leave behind their torch.
A temporary solution has been found the the lack of a front door. Picture: Instagram
Like most hospitality business, Julia Domna which is named after a Roman Empress of Arab extraction who came to live in Britain, was finding it challenging in a post-Covid environment.
Diana told LBC, “We are fighting for our lives, digging in, just to stay in the market. It is really a very tough time for us”.
The trained lawyer spoke warmly of the support that she and her husband, who works as the chef having originally been a regional manager for Syrian Airlines, have received from their loyal customer base in Putney which she describes as a like a family.
Local MP Fleur Anderson has her constituency office a short distance away from the restaurant and, when she heard what had happened, she said, “I am horrified that a local restaurant in Putney, Julia Domna, has been broken into, the property damaged, and money stolen. This is a very rare occurrence in Putney, and I have asked the local police to review this incident and to restore the confidence of shop owners and residents.
“We really value our excellent local businesses in Putney, and I know that the local community will rally to support Julia Domna. I have written to the owners to offer my support and hope to visit them soon”.
Despite the temporary nature of the front door and the loss of the cash register, the restaurant remains open.
If you have any information that would help the police identify the culprits you are asked to call 101 and quote reference ’468 / 11 August 24’.
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