ATLANTA — A business owner says she’s stepping up security after masked men jumped from a speeding car and robbed her Buckhead bakery full of customers.
The owner of Mae's Bakery says the gunmen broke a window, which is now boarded up, after they pulled up in front of the business Tuesday, ran inside and robbed customers and her cash register.
Beth Castro described the terrifying moments before she says two men burst through the door of her business on Lenox Road.
“It was almost like watching a movie. I couldn't believe what was unfolding and I could see that they were coming in here,” said Castro.
Castro says she and her employees ran out the back to call 911. Several customers were inside at the time. Castro says the gunmen ordered them to get on the ground and stole their wallets, along with less than $200 from the cash register.
Now, Mae's and other businesses in the Lenox Village shopping center have reached out to their landlord to increase security measures to keep customers safe. Mae’s posted a message on its Facebook page, saying the restaurant would close for the rest of the day Tuesday.
Castro she’s says she experienced the same frightening feeling years ago.
Channel 2 Action News interviewed her in October of 2011 after two men robbed her and a friend at gunpoint as they walked to dinner in the Virginia Highland neighborhood.
“It’s almost one of those things where you think, OK it’s happened once, it will never happen again,” she said. “And here we are again, just a few years later, having the same conversation.”
Castro says keeping her business and Atlanta safe is a priority. She's grateful no one was hurt this time.
“You assume that that's it. You see your life flash and you assume that's you may never see your family again,” she said.
Castro says area businesses are looking to organize a neighborhood watch and are talking with their landlord about adding security cameras. The bakery will reopen as normal Wednesday.
Atlanta police detectives interviewed victims after the robbery, but at this point no one is in custody for the crime.