DENTON — The owners of Jonuzi's Pizza say a string of recent incidents involving a group of teenagers has left their restaurant rattled, with shattered windows now covered by plywood and staff fearing someone could be seriously hurt if the behavior isn't stopped.
Business owners report escalating harassment
Co-owner Dean Romans told WE NEWS that the restaurant, located in a small strip mall along Tesley Lane, has become a daily target for a group of youths who initially behaved like regular customers but then began harassing patrons and staff. With several apartment complexes nearby and steady foot traffic from students, Romans said the strip mall draws many young people who sometimes linger after school.
Romans said the group first came into Jonuzi's and ordered small items like cheese sticks and drinks. He said they were welcomed, but that things changed when the teens began approaching customers in the strip mall and asking them for money. After he asked them to stop soliciting other patrons, Romans said the youths grew defensive and the conduct intensified.
"All the business owners, all the people who frequent here, it's family; my staff is family. I want to make sure that they're safe, and we don't feel very safe right now,"
The incidents carried beyond verbal harassment. Surveillance footage provided by Romans shows youngsters running by the storefront with their faces covered, tossing napkins into the business. More aggressive acts followed, including the group reportedly throwing food items at a delivery driver and, according to local reporting, a concrete object striking and shattering a window — now boarded over with plywood.
Community concerns and police contact
Romans said the escalating behavior prompted multiple calls to the Denton Police Department nonemergency line. He also said other nearby businesses corroborated his account, telling him the teens had been approaching customers across the strip mall and demanding free food.
Business owners worry less about lost revenue than about safety. "I want to make sure that they're safe," Romans said, reiterating his concern for staff and regular customers who consider the restaurant part of their community.
- Incidents began with teens appearing as customers and escalated to panhandling, verbal harassment and vandalism.
- Surveillance video shows teens running with faces covered and throwing items into the restaurant.
- Property damage included at least one shattered window, now covered with plywood; owners and nearby businesses have reported repeated disturbances to police.
| Type of incident | Reported details |
|---|---|
| Harassment/panhandling | Teens asking other customers for money; allegedly demanding free food |
| Verbal abuse | Yelling and using curse words while opening doors to the businesses |
| Vandalism/property damage | Items thrown into restaurant; at least one window shattered and boarded up |
Local context and next steps
Small businesses in the area told WE NEWS they are concerned about a pattern of behavior they say has persisted for weeks. With students and families making up much of the neighborhood foot traffic, business owners are urging authorities and community leaders to address the situation before someone is injured.
Romans emphasized that his aim was not confrontation but safety: he said he asked the teens to stop soliciting and harassing other customers after receiving complaints. He also encouraged customers who witness similar behavior to report incidents to police so a record exists and officials can gauge whether further enforcement or youth intervention is needed.
WE NEWS has requested comment from the Denton Police Department about the number of calls and any ongoing investigations related to the strip mall on Tesley Lane. Denton businesses and residents who have experienced similar problems are being advised to preserve video evidence and to file police reports so authorities can consider appropriate responses.
For now, Jonuzi's Pizza remains open but owners say the damage and threats to safety have taken a toll on staff and customers who view the restaurant as part of their neighborhood community.
