Vehicle Smashes Into Crystal Coffee Shop, Drives Off

A Crystal coffee shop is picking up the pieces after a vehicle crashed into its building on Sunday night. 

Neighbors Rally Around Bella’s Shoppe

Early mornings call for a pick-me-up. For many, Bella’s Shoppe Bakery & Coffee answers that call.

“We had an idea to open a coffee shop, but with a bakery included in it, so it’s like fresh baked stuff,” explained co-owner Yeimi Frutos.

Inside Bella’s Shoppe

Frutos opened the shop with his wife, Ashley. The pair serves a variety of homemade sweets, along with coffee drinks, smoothies, ice cream and breakfast sandwiches. The shop is named Bella after their daughter.

Business ran smoothly for the last two years– that was until late Sunday night, when a driver turned off of 36th, swerved into their Douglas Drive storefront, then drove off. The video was captured from afar on the property owners’ surveillance camera a few doors down:

When the police arrived, the vehicle was gone. Shattered glass was in its place. 

“We received a call around midnight, around 12 midnight. It was the police saying we had an accident, a car crashing into the front of the building,” Frutos said. “I don’t know. I could not believe that actually was happening to us.”

Neighbors Helping Neighbors

The next day, the Frutos family still opened their doors. One neighbor and longtime friend of the business, Jennifer Auger, wants to make sure they continue to thrive– even with a boarded-up storefront.

“I think I practically live here! More than at my house,” Auger said.

Auger’s son was one of Bella’s first employees. She and her family live near the shop. Auger said she’s always wanted a place like this in her neighborhood. 

“To me, this coffee shop has really been a part of our community. I’ve worked really hard with them, and I want to keep making it a part of our community,” she said.

Neighbors are responding, too. On Auger’s post in the Facebook group “The Light of Crystal,” over 100 people reacted. In the store, Frutos said many people came in to ask what happened.

“I heard there was trouble, so I came in to support you!” One customer said on Thursday morning. Others came in for the first time with the same sentiment.

Frutos said the window replacement could happen in four to six weeks, or even longer. In the meantime, Bella’s is open from morning until evening every day at 3549 Douglas Dr. N, at the corner of Douglas and 36th. 

Meanwhile, police are still looking for the driver of a Jeep with damage on the front end. You can help– police ask if you know anything, to contact the Crystal Police Department. Their phone number is (763) 531-1014.

The window the vehicle hit is now covered up, but the store is still open.

Crystal