The Cup and Cone is currently closed due to criminal mischief and may not reopen until March, owner Jeri Fry said.
The business’ electricity was turned off at about 8:30 p.m. Dec. 22, which caused the loss of all of the cakes and everything in the refrigerators, she said.
“The meter box was jimmied by the electricity thief so he could gain access to the incoming power ahead of the meter,” Fry said. “… Cameras recorded a person boldly walking over to the utility box in the alley.”
The damage was discovered five days after the incident because she was out of town to visit her new grand-baby.
“Cup and Cone has always closed for the Christmas and New Years holidays and (we) returned each January after deep cleaning,” Fry said.
There is not a GoFundMe page set up at this time to help with the loss of inventory, she said.
“I have been itemizing the loss for paperwork for the insurance claim,” Fry said. “That is priority just now. I haven’t thought through a GoFundMe option or coordinated with my vendors and lenders yet. Insurance will cover a little more than half of the loss. The business interruption means cash flow stops.”
In October, Fry walked away as the top winner in the business division of Fremont Economic Development Corp’s ‘Bull Session’ pitch contest. She was awarded $4,000 to add a bagel cafe to The Cup and Cone.
“Cup and Cone had been incubating The Bagel Café right under the same roof,” Fry said. “If there is any way, it may re-open quicker than the ice cream parlor. Managing this loss is a full-time job here for a while.”
There is not a suspect in the case at this time. Those who have any information about this incident are asked to call the Cañon City Police Department at (719) 276-5600. The case number is 19-04646.
