'Cash mob' gives boost to coffee house

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PORTLAND, Ore., Nov. 19 (UPI) -- Customers of an Oregon coffee shop that suffered two recent armed robberies organized a "cash mob" to show support and leave big tips at the cafe.

Jenifer DeWolfe, a regular customer at Black Rock Coffee Bar in Portland, said she organized Sunday's "cash mob" -- a group of customers who "mob" a business with purchases to give a financial and morale boost to the company -- at the cafe to show support for Black Rock following a pair of armed robberies Oct. 27 and Nov. 7, The (Portland) Oregonian reported Monday.

"It's really disheartening," DeWolfe said of the robberies. "I understand people get desperate, but there's always a better way to get what you need. It's ridiculous that hard-working people that donate to the community are the ones that get hurt."

Daniel Brand, whose family owns Black Rock, said he and his employees were overjoyed by the show of support.

"We try to connect with the local communities," Brand said. "So it's awesome to see people coming out like this."