Barrie Fatburger marks first anniversary despite recent break-in

A Barrie restaurant owner refused to let a difficult week derail his family’s plans to celebrate one year in business.

Fatburger, in Barrie’s north end, was broken into around 4:30 a.m. ET on Sunday, Aug. 16, just days before the restaurant’s first anniversary celebration.

Owner Anand Mishra said staff discovered the break-in when they arrived around 9 a.m.

The thieves stole beverages, a cash drawer containing some money and five tablets used to take customer orders.

There was no major property damage and the suspect apparently gained entry by opening the front door lock. The incident was reported to Barrie police.

Mishra said he is grateful no one was harmed.

“Thankfully, nobody was inside the restaurant at the time, so no employees or customers were hurt,” he said.

But the break-in was only part of an especially difficult week for the Mishra family.

Later that same day, Mishra, his wife, Deepika, and their two young children were involved in a car accident. The family was not seriously injured.

Two days later, Mishra said he and his family still wanted to mark Fatburger Barrie’s first anniversary.

“We decided that, despite everything that had happened, we were still going to celebrate,” he said.

For Mishra and his family, the milestone represents far more than a business anniversary. He said the Barrie community has become a valuable part of their lives.

“The Barrie community has been extremely important to us,” he said.

“My family lives here, our children go to school here, we employ local people, and the money and effort we have invested into this restaurant is part of our family’s future,” he said. “Barrie is home now, and we hope Fatburger will continue to be part of this community for many years to come.”

Mishra said the local response over the past week has been touching.

“The support we received following the recent break-in especially showed us how strong the Barrie community can be,” he said.

“Thousands of people shared and interacted with our posts and tried to help. That kind of response means a lot when you are a small business owner.”

Mishra and his family moved to Canada from India in 2019, and first lived in British Columbia before settling in Barrie.

Fatburger Barrie is locally owned and operated and is currently the only Fatburger location in Ontario.