Love and doughnuts Sunday after vandals stormed Locke St. shops Saturday night

There may have been terror in Hamilton after a mob of vandals stormed Locke Street Saturday — creating an estimated $100,000 of damage — but the day after it was all sunshine and support on the street.

On Sunday there was a large outpouring of support for business owners and those impacted by the damage left behind by vandals who went on a rampage in the Kirkendall neighbourhood — setting off fireworks, damaging vehicles and throwing rocks at store windows.

"This is our area and they can't let us be scared of them," said 12-year-old Maya Summers.

She was writing on the plywood that was placed on the windows of Donut Monster, located at 246 Locke St. S. — one of the businesses that felt the brunt.

We wanted to stay positive with our reaction and I think that helped other people stay positive with their reaction.- Reuben Vanderkwaak, owner of Donut Monster

On social media, the shop announced that they would have very few, if any, doughnuts because eight of their windows were smashed, and they had to call off their night baking staff early Sunday morning.

That didn't stop customers from visiting Donut Monster, despite the shortage. The shop was offering coffee and tea only, until doughnuts were freshly baked by noon.

Owner Reuben Vanderkwaak told CBC News they decided to stay positive — a sentiment carried throughtout the Hamilton neighbourhood all day.

"We wanted to stay positive with our reaction and I think that helped other people stay positive with their reaction, which then helped us stay positive with following through on that, so it's a good sort of circular effect," said Vanderkwaak.

Lauren Lytle from Hamilton was waiting in a line outside of the shop.

"We're just here to show support and I mean if we're eating great doughnuts in the process, I mean I can't think of a better cause of something better for our bellies," said Lytle.

Dave Boyd of Burlington first heard of the news on social media. He wanted to visit the street and Donut Monster because the store's positivity "was just amazing. It blew us away," said Boyd. 

'We are here for them' 

Further down the street, local resident, Nancy Hill tries to open the door of cupcake store Bitten, but found it locked with a sign that read, "Due to last night's events we will be closed today."

I hope these business owners that have just been on the frontline of some absolute disgraceful behaviour are not going to feel that they shouldn't come back to work.- Nancy Hill

Hill came out to show her support for local businesses.

"I hope these business owners that have just been on the frontline of some absolute disgraceful behaviour are not going to feel that they shouldn't come back to work or shouldn't support our neighbourhood. We are here for them and I just wanted to let them know that," said Hill.

Keanin Loomis, president and CEO of Hamilton Chamber of Commerce told CBC News, "I don't know what statement these bullies intended to make, but that is not Hamilton. The real Hamilton is the outpouring of support we saw for small businesses today."

MPP for Hamilton Centre and Ontario NDP leader, Andrea Horwath went on Twitter Saturday night  to say that she was "extremely concerned" about what was happening in her neighbourhood.

In a news release Sunday, Horwath announced that she's calling for people to come together March 10 to support the businesses on Locke Street.

She's called it, "#LoveLockeDay" and wants to show that the community won't be intimidated, while supporting hard-working local businesses that have been damaged.

"Let's come together to greet each other as neighbours, shop local on Locke, and show these vandals that this attack will only make us stronger," said Horwath.

Masked mob dressed in black

At around 10 p.m. Saturday night a group of about 30 individuals dressed in black clothing with their faces covered walked through the streets carrying a banner that said, "We Are The Ungovernables," say police. Police and witnesses say the mob damaged property, while setting off fireworks in the streets. 

Damage to Hamilton store by mob of vandals

7 years ago

Duration 0:32

This user-submitted video shows damage to a storefront caused by a group of vandals in Hamilton

Police say a number of storefronts on Locke Street and vehicles were damaged by the group overnight. Police say there were no reported injuries.

"Right now my estimate is that there's 10 mischiefs occurred that we've located and that includes businesses along Locke as well as some vehicles in and around that area and the estimate is about $100,000 worth of damage," said Hamilton police Insp. Paul Hamilton, who was duty inspector Saturday night.

Police spent the night in the area in an attempt to identify the damage, collect evidence including discarded items, collecting video and speaking to witnesses.

No arrests have been made.