Iconic mural along downtown Phoenix's Roosevelt Row vandalized

An “iconic” mural on Roosevelt and Fifth streets in Phoenix featuring a profile of a woman looking toward the sky was defaced with gold spray paint Wednesday morning.

The mural was painted on the side of the Flowers building in 2009 by El Mac, a renown street artist, and Augustine Kofie.

The mural is painted on the side of the restaurant Taco Chelo, which is expected to open in a few weeks. The restaurant is located along the Roosevelt Row area at the north end of downtown Phoenix, where numerous murals adorn buildings and walls in the area.

The restaurant owner said he has already redone the patio in front of the mural five times.

“It’s to make sure our fence is low enough and our awnings are high enough that the mural will still be public property and the mural would still be able to be seen in all capacities,” Aaron Chamberlin said.

Chamberlin said police have taken a report, and he has given security footage to officials.

"We saw a gentleman who was in a black hoodie with a baseball hat and walked up and just sprayed it,” he said. “Everyone is bummed, and shocked. This is an iconic piece of downtown Phoenix that has been vandalized.”

Chamberlin said he will leave the mural as is for the time being and reach out to the artist for advice about the next step.

Roosevelt Row, concentrated primarily between Seventh Street and Seventh Avenue along Roosevelt Street, has emerged as a thriving arts and cultural district that has drawn restaurants and new residential buildings while connecting to nearby historic residential districts. 

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