The new store at Junction Road had set its opening day for Thursday February 19 but the night before it was daubed with red paint and slogans about boycotting Gail’s.
Protestors held a demonstration outside the store on the opening day.
The window of the Gail’s in Junction Road appears to have been smashed by vandals. (Image: Supplied)
Further damage appears to have happened overnight (February 24) with windows smashed and more graffiti daubed.
An anarchy symbol, and the phrases “reject corporate Zionism” and “support local business” appear to have been sprayed on the bakery’s windows.
The opening of the Gail’s had drawn criticism over gentrification of the area and the prices charged by the bakery chain, which started in Hampstead and has its headquarters in Camden Town.
The chain is named after Gail Mejia, a British Israeli baker who was born in Belsize Park and grew up in Israel.
She was backed by American Tom Molnar and Israeli Ran Avidan to open the first Gail’s in Hampstead High Street in 2003.
Now boasting more than 180 bakeries it is run by Molnar and owned by Bread Holdings with a majority stake held by US private equity firm Bain Capital.
A local resident said: “It’s a real shame. This is a second time it’s been vandalised and this is the worst, with the windows smashed.
“A lot of residents are appalled, and a fair few people were seemingly buying stuff to support them.
“As a local resident, it’s a bit distressing – it’s just a bakery!?”
Facebook posts referred to the attacks as antisemitic with one urging people to support Gail’s, writing: “This is the second attack by the bigots and racists in a week. I’ve lived here for 23 years and no other ethnicity or nationality have been attacked in this way for having a business.”
The Met Police told the Jewish News that officers were called to reports of criminal damage at around 11.39pm on Wednesday February 18 and found the outside of the building had been vandalised with paint.
The suspects had fled before police arrived and after conducting a search of the area the force said it is working with the council to review available CCTV along with other footage that might help to identify the suspects.
The Met has not responded to our request for comment about the most recent damage.
The Community Security Trust – a charity which provides security to protect the UK’s Jewish community from hate crimes – said: “Targeting a bakery for graffiti and protests simply because one of its founders was Israeli is racist, and any claims that Gail’s is linked to the Israeli state are completely spurious.
“Rather than legitimate political activism, this is a racist campaign that spreads hate on British streets and creates an atmosphere of fear and intimidation.”
Gail’s has been approached for comment.
