Ali Ramlawi did not get a very nice valentine from Ann Arbor vandals.

On the morning of Feb. 14, the Jerusalem Garden owner discovered a large purple tag, as well as some black spray painted letters that don't spell out anything legible, on the front of the building he's renovating at 314 E. Liberty St. in Ann Arbor, formerly the site of Seva.

What upset Ramlawi the most was that the taggers painted on the cornerstone, which was laid when it was built as a Veterans of Foreign Wars Hall on August 7, 1949.

"You desecrate the cornerstone of the building that has been erected for (veterans), it's like desecrating a grave," Ramlawi said.

Jerusalem Garden will move into the old VFW Hall sometime at the end of March. The restaurant is currently located right around the corner at 307 S. 5th Avenue.

While preparing the building for its opening, Ramwali said he spent several hundred dollars removing graffiti from the exterior.

Just as he paid that bill the new graffiti appeared.

"That same night those sons of a gun came and did it again," he said. "I'm all about public art, but these guys don't have any code of ethics. This generation, there's no code of conduct with the lawlessness."

Ramwali filed an online report with the Ann Arbor Police Department, but he isn't stopping there. He wants to assist with the investigation by offering a $500 reward to anyone who can provide information that leads to the arrest and conviction of the suspects.

The AAPD Tip Line is at (734) 794-6939 or email Tips@a2gov.org.

For now, the graffiti will remain on the building until it warms up above freezing, when workers can use the proper equipment.

Ramwali is hoping for Saturday, when it is expected to reach 36 degrees. He doesn't want the vandalism to give any other taggers ideas.

"I don't want it to invite more graffiti," he said. "It's a epidemic here downtown. It's just all-around sad. On many levels, it's disrespectful."

John Counts covers crime and breaking news for The Ann Arbor News. He can be reached at johncounts@mlive.com or you can follow him on Twitter. Find all Washtenaw County crime stories here.