Shoe store ransacked after Lakers' victory reopens

A shoe store near the Staples Center that was ransacked by rowdy fans after the Lakers' victory Sunday reopened today.

Looters stole hundreds of vintage and special edition consignment sneakers from the Holy Grail, causing the store to incur $140,000 in losses and damage.

Looters grabbed shoes and set some of them afire in the street.

Richard Torres, the 29-year-old owner of the store, located at 604 W. Pico Blvd., said he hoped that people would come to his store today and support his business' reopening

"It felt like people came into our home and took something we poured our heart into. But today, we want the community to be aware that the events of Sunday did not break our spirit," Torres said.

Torres opened the business, his first, about 19 months ago, and decided to open at the corner of Pico Boulevard and Flower Street because he was a Lakers fan and he thought the post-game crowd would be the right clientele for his consignment sneakers.

Torres had been watching the Lakers game at his father's house in Corona on Sunday night and recognized that his store was in the middle of the melee on the news. Torres and his girlfriend, who manages the store, headed to the shop and found shoe boxes scattered all over the block and the storage room nearly empty.

Fewer than 20 pairs of shoes were left of about 800 pairs of consignment sneakers.

Neighbors told them the rioters had ripped open the back door while chanting, "We want shoes, we want shoes." Glass display cases had been shattered. Two computers, cash, sunglasses and hats were looted.

-- Esmeralda Bermudez in downtown Los Angeles

Comments

[JAKE]

Hmmm, they got they're shoes.
Goodbye more investment downtown.
Stupid thieves.

[B]

Unbelievable, why is there no prosecution of any of the thefts? There should be grand larceny charges I can't believe that they're letting people just get away with this while small businesses are struggling...Laker victories do no good whatsoever

[IvanG]

Police have made some arrests, and I presume that those arrested will be prosecuted. Several pairs of sneakers were found in one of the apartments in the same building.

[Melaine Samson]

The Lakers sure don't seem to care.

[chf paysinger]

that occurred as a result of the lapd being handcuffed from doing their job, and one of those is protect property. paysinger should demoted for it just like the macarther melee. he got off too easy. the incident after the lakers won was unacceptable when lapd just stood and watch.

[Sajid Mulla]

I hope whoever did this will pay maybe not legally but may bad karma follow these twisted individuals wherever they go. Not only did you make yourself look bad but with the economy the way it is you did not make Los Angeles a city of hope but heartache.

If any of you hoodlums know how to read and are actually reading I hope you people rot. Sure take your frustrations on people who provide you with a service they can just take their business elsewhere good job idiots.

[Al Widzer]

These people are like Animals and should be lock as animals.
It is so hard to open a shoes store, for I had one and lot of hard work goes into to have some animals come and take what they want. If theit must be proud of this Animals. The did the same thin the last time the Lake won. Boy! this gives LA, a great name to be proud of their Animals. Who would want to LA, for vist? I just this yong man can get back on his feet.

[King]

Hey,
Big Laker studs. One or several of you millionaires should certainly step up and pony up some cash to restock this store out of your own obscenely overpaid pockets. Do the right thing. If only for the good publicity.