It seemed like a typical day at Heritage Bikes and Coffee in Lakeview on Monday, but owner Michael Salvatore revealed that Friday was anything but normal.
“Around 1:30 a.m., someone smashed a window, grabbed a bike, and took off,” Salvatore told WBBM NEWSRADIO. Heritage, which first opened in 2012, has experienced a disturbing increase in break-ins. “We’ve replaced the window at least four times,” Salvatore said.
“Sad, but not surprised.
We’ve been broken into so many times, and it just keeps getting worse. This morning, I got a call about another break-in—someone smashed our window and took a couple bikes. It’s sad, but not surprising because so many of my small business friends in Chicago have been through the same thing.
We need change. Someone in Chicago needs to step up. Small businesses are struggling with rising taxes, food costs, and labor expenses. We keep seeing our taxes go up, but where does that money really go? There’s barely anything left to squeeze. But it’s okay; we’ll get the window fixed and we’ll get through today. I’ll keep opening every morning, doing my best for my community and family.
In the meantime, please support your local mom-and-pop shops. This kind of thing happens way too often in Chicago, and your support means everything to us.”
As a fifth-generation Chicagoan, Salvatore recognizes that addressing this issue citywide is a complex challenge. “There needs to be accountability,” he emphasized. “The problem now is that everyone’s passing the buck, leaving small businesses like mine to bear the costs.”
Salvatore’s intention isn’t to seek sympathy but to raise awareness. “I want people in the city to know this is happening,” he said.
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