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This toy canine caper may seem amusing or petty by the usual standard of Detroit wrongdoing, but downtown barkeep Larry Mongo sounds genuinely bereft. Or nearly unhinged.
He stops shy of offering a reward for the safe return of Hennessy, a stuffed pooch snatched from a barstool at Cafe d'Mongo's Speakeasy by a patron March 2. But the 68-year-old owner escalates from humor ("Amber Alert!") to desperation and shaming in a series of four Facebook posts over five days.
Hennessy is missing.
The social media appeals from last Sunday through Friday have 10 photos, a video and 40 comments. They're shared 42 times to widen the toy dog dragnet.
The clubby bar at 1439 Griswold St., open since 2007, draws cult-like loyalists. It's dubbed "the Rick's Cafe of Detroit." Google's listing says it's an "eclectic hipster watering hole with quirky decor."
Some of his 10,600 Facebook followers are aghast ("horrible," "doucheweed," "idiot," "people suck.") Carl Ball of Alpena reacts to the perp's security camera photo by calling him a "wanna-be Jared Kushner."
Responses also include this mirthful exchange, which may start with pretend-humor:
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Who steals a bottle of booze? A real piece of work!
-- Robert M. Nelson - Hennessy is a plush dog! -- MJ Bennett
- Oh sweet lord! That's so much worse! What a horrible, horrible man! -- Robert M. Nelson
On the sidelines, another observer shakes his head in puzzlement and summarizes the situation in a private message: "Owner of insanely popular hipster bar loses his shit on Facebook over stuffed animal."
Though it may seem disproportionate, Mongo's distress is real. He takes pride in hosting a cozy hangout each Thursday, Friday and Saturday, and now feels violated, Friday's latest post suggests:
"Human behavior is perplexing, nothing like the animal kingdom. Humans steal, just for the thrill.
"At least animals steal or kill for food, territory or a mate. Why did these two males steal our beloved Hennessy?"
The alleged thief leaves the Griswold Street cafe March 2 with the loot in his bag, Larry Mongo posts.
The fuzzy mascot swiped from his bar's first stool "is registered as a comfort companion for Christine," says the first post, referring to manager Christine Passerini. "I feel so sorry for you, Christine."
He adds:
"Please simply return her, no questions asked. We realize she is very endearing, but our team is not complete without her. . . .
"We realize you were having fun, and in a mischievous moment did something harmful. Please return her."
By Friday, the tone is harsher:
"I tried with human kindness to give these [two] men a chance to redeem themselves, as you can see from the post on Sunday. I did NOT want to view the tapes.
"Now, justice will prevail. Charges will be pressed."
If you recognize the dognapper, call the bar at (313) 961-0000.
