SAN ANTONIO — UPDATE: The restaurant owners told KENS 5 Friday that the trailer was recovered and is back at their location.
The owners said in a statement: "Thanks to a “Good Samaritan” we recovered the Acadiana Shack last night! Our special thanks go out to local media outlets, the citizens of San Antonio, and our local law enforcement agencies; all of who helped facilitate a good outcome!"
To show their appreciation, the Shack will be giving out free Gumbo Sunday, January 7 from 11 a.m. to 1 p.m.
See previous story below:
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A one-of-a-kind trailer was stolen from a well-known San Antonio eatery. The owner of Acadiana Cafe said thieves took off with a trailer he calls the shack. It is used for catering and charity events, and is valued at more than $20,000.
Dave Saylor spoke with KENS 5 and got emotional over the theft.
"I am taking this one very personal," he said. "We built myself, and some of my guys built that 32 years ago. It is very iconic."
Saylor owns Acadiana Cafe off Loop 410 near 151. He said Wednesday morning, his shack on wheels was stolen from his restaurant. He believes four people in a Hummer took off with the trailer after one in the morning. Saylor got images from a nearby surveillance camera and sent the photos to police.
Saylor uses the shack for catering and community events like Taste of New Orleans and the MLK March. He said inside are thousands of dollars’ worth of equipment.
"All the community events we have done with it," he said. "Looks like a little ole' house like a shack. But, it does have the Acadiana signs on it, that maybe somebody has taken off of it. We can fry catfish in it, make gumbo in it."
He has had it for a little more than 30 years. Saylor said you can't replace the memories they've made with the shack.
"We just want it back," he said.
SAPD made the theft report and said at this time no one has been arrested, and the investigation is on-going.