Vehicle crashes into Basic Bird, which needs your help

A vehicle travelling at high speed crashed through the front window of Korean wings restaurant Basic Bird in Beaverdale Thursday evening. No one was hurt, but significant damage was caused to the front of the building at 2607 Beaver Avenue. Des Moines police said it appeared the driver had a medical issue. The vehicle damaged a parked car, took out a tree and a planter.

Basic Bird, which opened a year ago, has been closed for the time being and the owners, Joe and Alexandra Tripp, have asked the community for financial help. They have set up a Go Fund Me page.

Tripp says the vehicle owner does not have insurance. In the Go Fund Me post, he says since opening a year ago in the former Rice Bowl building, "we have had 3 fires, we replaced the water heater twice as a result, plus additional hefty investments into a new make up air system to fix the negative pressure in the building causing these fires, a lightning strike that caused serious electrical damages including a new panel box, vandalism, and a complete failure of the plumbing that required total excavation and replacement of the plumbing that ran through the middle of our dining room, all of which accrued damages well exceeding $50,000. About 6 months ago, we found ourselves selling our retirement accounts to keep things afloat and to cover the financial losses."

Tripp says experience has taught him that business insurance rarely covers the total amount of damage, so he's reaching out to the community for help paying employees who currently can't work, and to compensate for the loss of business income while the restaurant is closed.

"We are forced to ask for community help getting our business through these tough times. Basic Bird was born at the height of the pandemic to keep jobs for our employees, and as a way to serve our community through a difficult time. We have battled through nonstop challenges and setbacks and have received incredible support from our customers along the way, but sadly, this could be the last nail in the coffin without additional help from our neighbors, friends, and community."

As of this article being written, more than $16,000 had been contributed through the Go Fund Me site, with funds still coming in.