An anarchist group called the Anti-Gentrification Front took responsibility for the crimes on the website anarchistnews.org, but police have not made any arrests.

“It’s frustrating. It’s so demoralizing,” said Ryan Chilibeck, owner of Famoso Neapolitan Pizzeria at Commercial Drive and Kitchener Street.

After the first two incidents in September and October he installed security cameras, but they did not deter the culprit from returning to smash out another five windows at 2:45 a.m. last Wednesday.

Chilibeck said he scrimped and saved for five years and had to borrow money in order to open the franchise last April, which has 14 other locations across the country.

“I watched the video of the person doing it this time. I didn’t actually get the pleasure of doing it the last couple of times, but it was scary to watch someone with that much anger just bashing in everything they could and you don’t really know why.”

A post on the anarchist news website says the actions were inspired by protests at Pidgin, an upscale restaurant that recently opened on the Downtown Eastside to the dismay of some of the local residents who can’t afford to eat there.

“For all too long now yuppies have been peacefully going about their gourmet dinners, buying up their lucky condos and flaunting their wealth by driving around in expensive cars,” the post states.

“… This is a f****** class war and we will not stop until we are free from class, the state and all others who oppress us. Your time will come.”

Chilibeck said the person or group responsible has caused more than $17,000 since last fall, and feels their vengeance is misdirected.

“Obviously they haven’t come in and tried the pizza there, but it’s definitely not a yuppy dining spot,” he chuckled. “It’s sort of just a family-friendly place, and our most expensive item on the menu is $14.75.”

Vancouver Police did not respond to a request for comment by Metro’s deadline.

The Famoso Pizzeria in The Annex opened at Bloor and Dalton Rd a couple months back, seemingly springing up overnight in place of The James Joyce pub.  They’ve turned the dark, dingy Irish-themed bar into a bright, modern restaurant, a pretty extreme makeover for anyone familiar with the surroundings.  Truth be told, I’d been meaning to swing by for a little bit; this just gave me a convenient excuse.

(The real-life version looks even more delicious, dontcha think?)

With their high-powered, art-deco pizza oven, pies take just 90 seconds to heat up, coming to you hot and fresh.  So fresh, in fact, that when I grabbed my first slice, the cheese came dripping off onto the plate.  Not cool.  But I eventually developed a stratagem, employing the lip of the plate for potential cheese maximization.  Man, I gotta say, that stone-baked crust was great.  Nothing wrong with the toppings, either, though as a meat-atarian, I’d hafta go with something a bit heartier next time.  That said, I am hardly one to complain about free pizza…

Oh, and did I mention that the chain originated in Calgary?  That alone is reason for me to support their business.