Woman arrested in connection to damage at Lexington coffee shop

Salvador Sanchez shares how A Cup of Common Wealth continues to serve the community despite repeated vandalism

LEXINGTON, Ky. (ABC 36 NEWS NOW) — A Cup of Common Wealth in downtown Lexington is cleaning up after its store window was shattered over the weekend.

The store’s founder, Salvador Sanchez, said it’s unfortunately not an uncommon occurrence. In fact, it has happened so frequently that the shop now sells T-shirts featuring the infamous shattered windows.

“We’ve had maybe 7 or 8 windows break since we’ve been open for the last 12 years, that one specifically has been broken 4 times,” Sanchez said. “Part of it is like right there on the main vein of Lexington, and there’s rocks and stones on the streets, so it makes it a little easier for people,” Sanchez said.

The Lexington Police Department said 48-year-old Devonna Mitchell was arrested at the scene and is charged with criminal mischief and trespassing in connection with the broken window.

“Out of the 7 or 8 times, 3 times they’ve caught the person, so that’s always kind of nice. Just it is what it is, just you know it is what it is, you kind of you know put on your boots and keep going to work,” Sanchez said.

Despite the setback, A Cup of Common Wealth was back in the headlines Tuesday morning, featured as part of “Good Morning America’s” “What Fills Your Cup” series.

Sanchez said the shop is a reflection of Lexington’s community spirit.

“Not something that you expect every day, it’s always nice to get some attention on Lexington, just like letting people know the cool things that are here, not just this coffee shop, there are so many great restaurants, a lot going on with the park, and just so many new things. So that’s always fun and being on national news is, you know a little nerve-wracking but also exciting,” said Sanchez.

Sanchez said even when damage like this happens, the Lexington community always shows up to help clean and repair.