From Bad to Worse: Rochester Business Owner Robbed After Working Pop-Up Event

If you’ve driven anywhere near downtown Rochester recently, you know it is an absolute nightmare. Between the endless orange cones, heavy machinery, and constant detours, getting around feels like a maddening obstacle course.

Because construction seems to be happening on every single corner, it’s made it tough for people to support local businesses, and Uni Uni Bubble Tea has been hit especially hard.

Get our free mobile app

What Is Uni Uni Bubble Tea?

Located on 2nd Street SW right across from St. Marys Hospital, Uni Uni is a local favorite known for fresh boba tea, refreshing acai bowls, fruit teas, and incredible mochi waffles.

Carly Ross, Townsquare Media, Rochester

Earlier this year, the business thanked people on social media for finding a way to navigate the construction to support Uni Uni. "Even though construction has made us hard to see, harder to reach, and definitely not a quick stop anymore—you still find us. And that means everything."

uni uni bubble tea in rochester, mn

The 2nd Street project has made it extremely difficult for customers to reach the store, and has impacted their bottom line so the owners have been busting their butts this summer by adding off-site pop-up events just to bring in enough revenue to keep the business afloat.

Carly Ross, Townsquare Media Rochester

Sadly, a small business already stretched to its absolute limit just got hit with a heartbreaking new blow.

'I Am Sick to My Stomach'

In a painful Facebook update, the owner of Uni Uni shared that after working an 80+ hour week and returning to unload from a pop-up event, someone stole her purse right out of her vehicle parked outside the shop.

According to the post, thieves took the purse which contained cash earnings intended for a bank deposit, a work laptop, inventory tracking sheets, and irreplaceable family photos.

"You didn’t just steal money," the owner wrote. "You stole from a small business owner who works every single day to keep the doors open, provide for the community, for a family with small children, and support employees."

Police Report Filed

The owner confirmed that an official report has been filed with the Rochester Police Department. Along with the public message, the business shared surveillance camera photos showing individuals inside and near the shop around the time of the reported incident.

UPDATE:  The owner reached out to us to thank us for our coverage:

It’s another frustrating setback for Uni Uni, but they’re still open and fighting to stay afloat. If you're looking to help out a local business that truly needs our support right now, navigate the maze of cones on 2nd St. SW and treat yourself to a bubble tea or a mochi waffle.