A New Orleans restaurant owner is keeping the faith despite being the victim of violence three times in the last year.
The most recent episode happened around 2 a.m. Wednesday, when someone shot the glass door at Felipé's Taquiera Mid-City on Carrollton. In the six months prior, someone broke into Felipé's Uptown while another person fired multiple shots into the Felipé's French Quarter location.
Despite it all, the restaurants' owner, Pike Howard, says he has no plans to abandon the city.
"We've been here for 16 years," Howard said. "We're family owned (and) locally owned. We're committed to New Orleans both here and now."
Although Howard says he's not uprooting his business, he's urging city leaders to find a solution to the ongoing crime problem.
"This is particularly acute and the worst it's ever been without a doubt," Howard said of the recent crime surge. "Let's hope we can find a path forward here because there are a lot of people who are counting on it. If New Orleans can figure out a way to really dig deep and come together as a community and really take back this place, we're all for it."
Howard pointed to one specific reason for the crime increase.
"We're talking about indivduals who think there are no consequences whether they're on camera or not or whether they even get arrested by a police officer," Howard said.
Still, Howard says his customers have been standing by him and his business.
"I think the vast majority of people realize that there's a small group of people perpetuating this violence, and they're not part of that group, and they want to continue to see New Orleans thrive and support the local businesses."
Howard added that he's hopeful for the future.
"You know, I think as a business owner you gotta believe there's an end to this about some point. I'm not sure what exactly the tipping point is, but, you know, there just has to be a finality or sort of an ending to what's been going on, and I think we'll get there over time."
