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Two bridal shops in Belding and Greenville were vandalized, as were some other businesses over the Fourth of July weekend.
Bella Sposa Bridal & Prom, which just recently opened in downtown Greenville, was the victim of severe vandalism over the Fourth of July weekend. The north entry door and windows were smashed and gowns worth thousands of dollars were damaged and strewn through the woods. — Submitted photo | Bella Sposa
Bella Sposa Bridal & Prom, which just recently opened at 600 N. Lafayette St. in Greenville, was hit the hardest. The north entry door and windows were smashed and gowns worth thousands of dollars were damaged or stolen and strewn through some nearby woods. The incident occurred sometime in the early morning hours of July 4, with someone reporting that they heard glass breaking between 12:30 and 2:30 a.m., according to Bella Sposa owner Dwin Dykema.
Greenville Department of Public Safety Director Brian Blomstrom said his department is investigating and anyone with information about the Bella Sposa vandalism is encouraged to call the GDPS at (616) 754-9161.
“They used a piece of asphalt and a small rock to force their way inside, those were taken for possible prints,” Blomstrom said. “A bunch of the dresses were found over by the Fred Meijer Flat River Trail so those individuals must have run northbound.”
Dykema relocated her bridal shop from the Grand Rapids area to Greenville and she celebrated with a grand opening on June 26. (The Daily News covered the grand opening and that story is scheduled to publish in Wednesday’s newspaper). Dykema said she hasn’t been to her store yet since the vandalism occurred.
“I feel really depressed and violated,” she said. “I worked so hard for two years and it’s been such a struggle to hire. Then we had our ribbon cutting ceremony and I’m thinking OK, we’re going to turn a corner here and life is going to get a little better and easier. Now I have another hurdle to jump over and I don’t know how I’m going to do it. They stole a whole rack of dresses.”
Belding Beauties & Bro’s in the Belding Covered Village Mall was also vandalized that night, as was Samaritas, a substance use disorder treatment center, and several other locations within the Belding mall.
Elizabeth VerWys-Johnson has owned Belding Beauties & Bro’s for six years, the last four located in the mall. The business provides a variety of formal attire for weddings, funerals, pageants, work and more, and also houses a baby pantry.
The vandals made a mess in the boutique shop, crushing up and throwing candy, dumping water on things and breaking a mirror. VerWys-Johnson was emotional as she shared how the vandalism has affected her.
Bella Sposa Bridal & Prom, which just recently opened in downtown Greenville, was the victim of severe vandalism over the Fourth of July weekend. The north entry door and windows were smashed and gowns worth thousands of dollars were damaged and strewn through the woods. — Submitted photo | Bella Sposa
“It’s upsetting, it’s confusing and it’s frustrating,” she said. “They took my sense of security. We give things away to the community for free. Our business was created to help people, we just like to love on people and let them know that they are beautiful, worthy and loved. To have that invaded feels kind of dirty.”
As upset as she was, VerWys-Johnson felt even worse for Bella Sosa in Greenville.
“Look at what happened in Greenville,” she said. “I feel so bad for the other shop, so bad. It’s insanely crazy if the incidents aren’t connected.
“It’s concerning and invasive. I want the people to be caught,” she summarized.
Dykema agreed, saying, “I feel like because it happened on the same night to Elizabeth (VerWys-Johnson) and me, it somehow feels related. It’s too much of a coincidence that it would happen to two bridal shops in the same night.”
Samaritas did not return messages seeking comment for this story.
The Belding Police Department is investigating the Belding incidents. Police Chief Dion Sower did not return messages seeking comment for this story.
