Beloved Half Moon Bay eatery reopens month after ‘catastrophic’ break-in

HALF MOON BAY, Calif. (KRON) — More than five weeks after a beloved Half Moon Bay restaurant was broken into and heavily vandalized, the business is reopening to customers on Friday.

Dad’s Luncheonette, a family-run eatery that distinguishably occupies the space of a train caboose, said it is looking “forward to serving the coastal community, travelers and locals on Highway 1 once again” following the disastrous broad daylight break-in that shuttered the business for over a month.

On Aug. 13 at 10:20 a.m., the San Mateo County Sheriff’s Office responded to the restaurant on the report of a break-in. Arriving deputies found and arrested the suspected burglar, identified as Mallery Mackaybrook, 46, of Santa Cruz, who was still at the scene. Authorities said they observed “significant damage” had been done to the business.

The Dad’s Luncheonette team called the incident “catastrophic” in a GoFundMe page set up to raise donations from the community. Initially posting to social media on the day of the break-in that repairs may take “a couple weeks,” the closure ended up extending into mid-September.

“We look forward to serving you, and hope to bounce back stronger, after the past several weeks of uncertainty,” the restaurant wrote.

Mackaybrook pleaded not guilty to felony charges of second-degree commercial burglary and vandalism. The case returns to court next month.

The owner, former three Michelin star chef Scott Clark, opened Dad’s Luncheonette in 2017. The roadside restaurant serves up burgers, salads, mac and cheese and homemade chips. It is located at 225 Cabrillo Highway South.