UPDATE: The organizers of the event have added additional venues to accommodate demand. The principal venue remains Ware House 518, but Mick O'Shea's and Midtown BBQ are also taking donations at the door and offering all-night specials.
Ware House 518 will host a fundraiser on Tuesday evening to benefit the 15 Mount Vernon businesses that were damaged in a spate of vandalism and looting that swept through the neighborhood on the afternoon of April 27.
There is a suggested $5 donation to the Mount Vernon Business Fundraising Happy Hour, and a portion of the evening's food and bar sales will go toward the affected businesses.
The organizers of the event, which include the Historic Charles Street Association, are asking those who can't attend the event to visit their fundraising page on the Go Fund Me website. The public was also asked to patronize the individual businesses
The affected businesses include Cafe Poupon, Coffeeland, 7-Eleven, Cap Ex Management, Lumbini Restaurant, Brown's Arcade, Annapurna Grocery & Gifts, Mick O'Shea's Irish Pub, Ted's Musician Shop, Midtown BBQ and Brew, Gallery Grill, For Rent, Cozy Corner and Trinacria Cafe.
Most of the businesses were reopened within a day or two of the damage, the extent of which varied from broken exterior windows to more extensive looting.
"This event is in response to the many Mount Vernon neighbors and downtown workers who wanted to help out," said Historic Charles Street executive director Kristen Speaker, who said she did not have exact details about insurance coverage at each individual business.
"We're hoping to raise $7,500. That way we could give everyone $500," Speaker said. "Some that were less affected have told us that they want their share passed along to a business that needed it more."
The Mount Vernon Business Fundraising Happy Hour is 5 p.m. to 9 p.m. on May 5 at Ware House 518 at 518 N. Charles St. in Mount Vernon. For more information call 443-869-3381 or go to the event's Facebook page.