TEMPE, AZ — After a break-in at his longtime burger restaurant, a Tempe business owner is feeling overwhelmed by the outpouring of support from his community.
Yianni Loannou arrived at Johnny’s Burgers, near Southern and McClintock, to find shattered glass and a ransacked restaurant. “The bottom window was broken,” he recalled. Around midnight on July 7, a burglar smashed a window with a rock, grabbed the cash register, and made off with a few hundred dollars in cash.
For Loannou, it was a tough blow during what’s already a slow summer season — and for a moment, he considered walking away from the business he’s run for over a decade. “Many times (I’ve thought that),” he said with a laugh.
But he’s faced worse. Just days after Christmas in 2023, a fire destroyed his restaurant, forcing him to shut down for over a year. “We felt like this is not just for us, it’s for the community,” he said, remembering how loyal customers would stop by and ask when he would reopen, not if.
Following the burglary, Loannou shared what happened online — and the response was immediate. His post went viral, drawing in more customers and messages of encouragement. One person even offered to replace the $250 that was stolen. Loannou declined the money but was deeply touched by the gesture.
“It’s emotional to know people care,” he said. “They care for each other. And they try to help in any way.”
For Loannou, it’s a reminder that the restaurant isn’t just a place to eat — it’s a part of the neighborhood.
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