(Image: Vito’s)

First Hill nightclub Vito’s is offering a $1,000 reward for the return of its mountain lion.

Barbara, the big taxidermied puma that has been a centerpiece in the club’s Cougar Room, was ripped off in a break-in at the First Hill joint that has been shuttered since a June fire damaged its E Madison building.

“This weekend thieves broke into Vito’s and among other things, smashed the glass and STOLE our beloved cougar in the COUGAR ROOM,” Vito’s posted about the Thanksgiving weekend heist. “The photos are much too depressing to post, but we suspect these idiots will try and sell, or at least brag about the theft of this antique, large and beautiful mountain lion.”

The nightclub is offering a $1,000 reward for Barbara’s safe return and another two grand for information leading to any arrests in the burglary.

CHS reported on the June fire that left three people seriously injured in the First Hill apartment building above Vito’s and the months of limbo the club faces in the drawn out construction process to repair the damage. Water damage from the response also crashed through the ceiling and wreaked havoc throughout the restaurant. The entire building had to be emptied during the repair construction which was expected to take at least a year to complete.

In 2020, CHS reported on the ten year anniversary of the restored classic club under owners Greg Lundgren and Jeff Scott.

If you have information about Barbara or the break-in, drop CHS a line and we’ll hook you up with the folks at Vito’s.

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