Gunmen rob 4Rivers Smokehouse in Winter Park

Police search for 2 men in armed robbery

WINTER PARK, Fla. – 4Rivers Smokehouse reopened on Tuesday morning after hooded gunmen forced an employee to open the restaurant safe during a robbery.

The armed robbery took place around 6:15 a.m. on Fairbanks Avenue between U.S. 17-92 and Interstate 4.

According to Winter Park police, two men carrying guns forced their way into the store, where four employees were working.

The gunmen made the employees lie on the ground before demanding that one of them open the safe, police said.  

The robbers fled with an undisclosed amount of money and K-9 units tracked their scent to a nearby business, but they have not been located, according to police.

No one was injured in the robbery.

4Rivers reopened for lunch just before noon Tuesday. The employees at the restaurant at the time of the robbery decided to stay and work through their shift even though they were told they could go home, according to owner John Rivers.

"I've spoken with each one of them and they were a little bit shaken up early this morning, told them they could certainly go home," Rivers said. "Any support we can give them we've made available but they're all great, they're here and they're doing fine."

Rivers said he doesn't care if the robbery affects business, only if the employees are OK.
"It's not about the loss of revenue it's what happens to the employees," Rivers said. "Thank god nobody was hurt."
happened quick."

Police said the men were described as 20-30 years old and around 6 feet tall. One man was armed with a handgun and was wearing a gray hooded sweatshirt, jeans and a motorbike skill half mask.

The other man was armed with a knife wearing a Navy blue hooded sweatshirt, dark jeans and light gray Vans sneakers, police said.

Other businesses in the neighborhood said they are looking out for the suspects

"It's quite a shock to say the least, you seldom to see this type of robbery," said Mike's Pawn Shop employee Chris Debard. "We are taking extra precautions to make sure this isn't something that happens to us."

Watch Local 6 News for more on this story.


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