It will be one year ago on Saturday that Brookfield business owner Bashar “Bob” Fakhoury was shot dead during a robbery at Phoenix Liquor, 8814 Ogden Ave.

With the investigation of the murder at a standstill, Fakhoury’s family announced Thursday that they have increased the reward offered for information leading to the arrest of the two men involved to $20,000.

“We’re just hoping that someone knows something out there,” said Mike Fakhoury, Bob’s brother, who continues to operate the liquor store. “Hopefully the reward will help.”

Phoenix Liquor continues to be the kind of business it has almost always been – a tidy, low-key store near the village’s eastern border – except for the terrible moments of July 9, 2010, when two men entered the business around closing time and held up the store. During the robbery, one of the men shot Bob Fakhoury in the head, killing him.

Late Friday morning, Mike Fakhoury stood behind the counter of the quiet, well-kept store. The only hint of the events of July 9 are four sheets of paper taped to the front door – two copies each of a police sketch of the two men suspected of the killing and a Brookfield police press release.

“I guess the false sense of security got us,” said Mike. “I don’t know where those two guys came from … out of nowhere.”

One thing that is different at the store is the presence of video cameras, installed about a week after Bob’s death.

“The biggest change is the cameras,” Mike said.

The two men eluded police on the night of the robbery. And although descriptions and sketches have been released, police say that the trail has gone cold.

Bob Fakhoury, 38, left a widow and two small children. Mike says they’re holding up well, and that he’s trying to do what he can to help.

“They’ve got a good uncle looking out for them,” Mike said of his brother’s children. “I’m sure he would have done the same thing for me.”

Mike also expressed warmth for the help his family received in the wake of his brother’s death, including a fundraiser organized by fellow Ogden Avenue business owner Bernadette Ryan, of Ryan’s Pub.

“The support from the neighbors was good. It was very nice of Bernadette to do, and everything business-wise has been OK since,” Mike said.

In August 2010, the Fakhoury family announced a $10,000 reward for information leading to the arrest of those involved in the robbery. That offer has not resulted in any information to date, Mike said, leading the family to double the reward.

Anyone with information about who may have been involved in the incident is urged to call the Brookfield Police tip line at 708-485-1741.