Cafe Cremerie

Overnight Looting in Chicago Worries Downtown Restaurant Owners | Eater Chicago

"I saw photos of smashed windows at Cafe Crèmerie, 838 N. State Street in the Gold Coast, and learned that looters ripped a safe bolted to the floor and stole the Square register and tablet computers used for third‑party delivery. The gelato shop’s windows have been boarded up since 3 a.m.; owner Lisa Gasparian recently converted the shop from an Amorino franchise to an independent business in response to the pandemic, and she says COVID‑19 has already made running the business difficult so the repeated looting (also occurring in May) has been particularly damaging. Gasparian called the looting “disgusting,” questioned Mayor Lightfoot’s leadership, posted asking President Donald Trump to “send help to Chicago,” and pleaded, “We need people to not be scared,” referring to fear caused by both the virus and the criminal activity." - Ashok Selvam