Coffee shop owners hit out after Christmas tree vandalised

Transylvania Shop and Coffee, based in Govanhill, were left p****d off after a spate of vandalism resulted in crushed lights, smashed-up baubles and 'a lot of hurt'. 

Co-owner Daniel Radu said: "When the tree was vandalised I was hurting a lot. 

"This wasn't just a kid coming up and stealing a bauble, this was a tree we spent days decorating. 

"We are not a big co-operation, we do it all ourselves. These baubles can cost about £20 a piece and we decorate with our profit money, so it all just p****d me off. 

"We work hard and want to do something nice for people but we ultimately can't and it's really disheartening."

However, Daniel and his team were not left feeling too angry for long as 'the amazing people of Govanhill' were there to pick up the pieces. 

Residents and businesses in the area came forward with donations of baubles and lights, and spread the news across social media - leading to widespread support for the Southside shop. 

"Everyone seemed to be angrier than us," Daniel Joked. 

He continued: "It is just amazing to see how great the people from Govanhill are as a community.

"So many people came around with lights and one of the businesses across the road from us brought over some red and white baubles because they know they are my favourites. 

"We have so much appreciation for everyone coming together for this. 

"We got a lot of messages on social media as well, people just saying that they were so sorry and that we shouldn't give up on Christmas or our tradition of doing the tree. 

"I  was left wondering what was the point in the tree, but the community didn't let us give up."

Since the community got involved, Daniel has revealed that the newly decorated tree has since been untouched. 

But, this is not the first year that the shops' tree has came under attack. 

Having faced similar vandalism - but on a much smaller scale - since opening their doors four years ago, the shop still refuse to give up on their 'cultural tradition'. 

Daniel added: "This happens every year, but never on this scale. 

"Every year people are doing something to the tree. In the first year our lights were stolen.

"We don't want to give up on the tree though, it's important to us and is tradition within our (Romanian) culture."

Next year Daniel stated that the tree will be moved to a different position and joked about the possibility of putting an electric fence around the tree to guard it. 

The shop did not report the incident to police. 

To find out more about the Transylvania Shop and Coffee or to contact them, click HERE