LAGUNA BEACH : Glue-in-Locks Caper Causes Hard Feelings

Tension between local artists and Forest Avenue business owners grew after someone squeezed glue into the locks at six shops last weekend.

While police say they have no suspects, some shop owners believe that the vandalism is retaliation for their opposition to craft fairs along Forest Avenue.

Mark Siegal, owner of Austin Galleries, one of the businesses targeted, said some people called him Monday saying they may drop out of the Forest Avenue Merchants Assn., formed last year to lobby against street fairs in front of their stores.

“They are afraid they are going to get a rock through their window,” Siegal said.

Police said the vandalism occurred between the time the businesses closed Saturday night and when they opened Sunday morning. Targeted were Bushard Pharmacy, Austin Galleries, Pacific Gallery, Village Gallery, Thee Foxes Trot and the Christine of Santa Fe Gallery.

“The only thing the six stores have in common, the only thing, is their opposition to the Craft Guild,” Siegal said.

Police said it is unusual for several stores in one area to be hit by vandalism at the same time.

“From time to time we have some businesses vandalized (with glue in door locks)),” Police Sgt. Bob Rahaeuser said. “But I can’t recall the last time we’ve had six businesses in a one-block radius vandalized in that manner.”

Drake Jenkins, who said he lost up to two hours of business on Sunday because he could not open his Christine of Santa Fe Gallery, said he doubts that it is mere coincidence that the businesses victimized were owned by people who spoke recently before the Laguna Beach Arts Commission and the City Council.

“I would have to assume that it is related,” he said.

But Craft Guild president Spence Hurlbut said: “I just can’t think of anybody offhand that would even consider doing something like this.”

The controversy between the Craft Guild and the merchants revolves around the four to six street shows that take place on Forest Avenue every year. Guild members are local artists who sell arts and crafts at city street shows and festivals.

Merchants say they lose as much as 50% of their revenues on days when street vendors line the street in front of their stores. Guild members, however, claim a limited right to Forest Avenue, one of the busiest streets in town. They have used the street intermittently for 23 years.

The latest controversy centers on where the show will take place on Memorial Day weekend. Guild members, business owners and City Council representatives met earlier this month to prepare a plan that would draw support.

The proposal, which will be before the City Council next Tuesday, would allow three shows on Forest Avenue this year but move the Memorial Day event to Ocean Avenue--a block away.

Hurlbut said guild members were satisfied with the compromise. “Everybody was happy,” he said. “I don’t know anybody that was disgruntled.”

But Siegal said the merchants will now ask the council to reduce the guild’s access to Forest Avenue by one day this year to make up for the business lost on Sunday due to glued locks.

Jenkins said some business owners may feel even less inclined to bargain with guild members about show dates. “After what has occurred now,” said Jenkins, “I think the feeling is going to be we don’t want them on Forest ever again.”