Cortney Bond has had enough. The owner of the popular Upper East Side speakeasy and ice cream shop aptly dubbed The UES, as well as Not A Speakeasy, took matters into her own hands Sunday, detailing to Upper East Site how she chased a violent robbery suspect through the neighborhood and into East Harlem where he was finally taken into custody.
“I wouldn’t tell my staff to do so for their safety, but I have no problem doing it,” Courtney Bond told Upper East Site in an interview Sunday night, hours after her harrowing 13 block chase, “This is my home and I am fed up.”
Bond says that serial thief first came into her ice cream shop, located at 1707 Second Avenue, between East 88th and 89th Streets, around 9:45 pm Saturday night — grabbing the tip jar with just $10 inside and trying to run out.
When the host working the speakeasy that night tried to stop the suspect, police say the thief got physical with the employee and punched him in the face, splitting his lip and leaving it bleeding.
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The host fought back and kicked the thief out of the ice cream shop and called police. Upper East Site was there Saturday night as officers took the employee’s report as other NYPD patrol cars whizzed by, canvassing the neighborhood for the suspect.
Less than 24 hours later, Bond says the same violent suspect turned up again at her ice cream shop, again trying to steal the tip jar.
He didn’t get it this time, Bond says, so the suspect went into J.J. Brown Cup next door and swiped the money from their tip jar. That’s when the nightlife expert and SoulCycle enthusiast sprung into action.
“As a business owner you expect to put out fires all day long, that’s the job,” Bond said, “But, when when of your employees is hurt or violated it’s on another level.”
Bond says she chased the suspect all the way from her shop to East 102nd Street and Second Avenue in East Harlem before she spotted a cop car in traffic and flagged them down.
“This guy tried to shake me running into traffic and into the subway station, but I would not let up,” the speakeasy owner said, “I saw a cop car in the street and jumped in front of it to get them to stop and they ran out and then they finally arrested him.”
The NYPD could not immediately confirm the details of Bond’s harrowing chase through Yorkville and East Harlem, however, a law enforcement source did tell Upper East Site the suspect seen in photos provided by Bond was in police custody.
“We have to fight back and scare them away or they will just keep coming back,” Bond said, “I’m outraged what he has been doing to my block and what he did to my host.”
It turns out that this same suspect had been repeatedly targeting businesses on Second Avenue between East 88th and 89th street over the past week.
Though police reports were not filed, workers at J.J. Brown Cup explained the suspect had come into their small coffee shop three days in a row, getting away with cash from the tip jar twice — they even moved where it was located on the counter to try and deter the suspect to no avail.
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Two other businesses on the block were also struck, Bond said, however Upper East Site has chosen not to name them because we were not able to confirm the crime with staff or management.
“Business is hard. NYC business is impossible,” Bond explained, “[Her employees] are my babies and they are supposed to be under my wing and I hate that they have to feel unsafe in their place of employment. In a pink ice cream shop!”
Bond says she is sick of what is happening, as small businesses all over our neighborhood are targeted by thieves and robbers, that’s why she’s stepped up and applied to become New York City’s Mayor of Nightlife.
Hailing from Las Vegas and putting down roots on the Upper East Side with her two popular night clubs, Not a Speakeasy and The UES, Bond wants to translate her skill set into positive growth, not just for her businesses, but all businesses and for all New Yorkers.
“I want to get into the politics of this city to see what I can do to help,” Bond said, “We need to bring our New York back!”
Yay! We need more people willing to stop these lowlifes!
Finally someone is willing to step out (literally!) and fight back. What a shame that a business owner has to do such a thing. You are amazing and you have my vote. Enough is enough. Good for you! Just be careful please. We need you.
Cortney always been a badass!
OMG. That’s my amazing daughter Cortney Bond. She didn’t say a word. The only reason I found out about how heroic she was is because I subscribe to the Upper East Site newsletter. She has always been a strong woman, fiercely opiniated. I don’t know anyone that loves New York more than her. I’m so proud of her for owning two businesses in Upper East Side Manhattan. I think one day she might just be the Mayor of New York City!!!!
Super story. And Cortney did it the safe way, flagging down the cops. But–I’ve lived on the UES my whole life—and I speak from experience —-Be Careful, bad sh*t happens fast and the box cutters or worse come out when you corner these assh*oles. That said, well done Cortney, you’ve got my vote. And nice job on the 3 small businesses UES too, I don’t see CHASE BANK or DUANE READE helping out around the ‘hood. 🙂