Elvis Is In The Building: Shawnee Statue Stolen After Tornado Is Returned

In every Boomerang Diner, you step back in time. But in Shawnee, the diner on MacArthur Street had to restart its clock.

On April 19, 2023, an EF-2 tornado struck homes and businesses, and belongings went missing.

"We came back the next day… and Elvis was gone,” said Stephen Degraffenreid, Boomerang Diner Operations: “

An Elvis statue was taken from the damage. “Who was going to come steal a statue, in the middle of the night in a building that just got hit by a tornado," Stephen asked.

The valued Shawnee star was missing from his stage.

“Almost every table that comes in asks us where Elvis is,” Luke Degraffenreid, Boomerang Diner Operations added.

Without the king, and the building in disarray, Boomerang took to social media in hopes of getting Elvis back in the building.

A missing poster was created and the post caught traction.

“It got everyone involved. The community was concerned, and wanted to know,” Luke said.

Where was Elvis? Help from an anonymous source led them in the right direction.

“There was no ransom, nothing like that. It was a nice clean drop-off,” Stephen joked.

After some college fun, he found his way home. The Boomerang team decided not to press charges. "People will be people and we just wanted our Elvis back. We don’t want anyone to get in trouble,” said Stephen.

Elvis was returned missing a few parts but a local artist stepped in to help.

A hometown favorite is soon to return to his newly rebuilt home.

"He’s been in Shawnee for 14 years,” Stephen added.

“I love Elvis. Doesn't everybody?” Debra Nelson, a Boomerang Diner customer said.

The Boomerang team said that despite being hit by a car in 2010, and being stolen and returned, Elvis will be good as new. Elvis is set to be back ‘in the building’ in the long with a new guitar, stool, and fingers in the next few weeks.