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Burglars grabbed $200 between Saturday night and Sunday morning after breaking into Grandma J's Local Kitchen, the Humboldt Park spot that anti-gentrification vandals targeted in late May. Unknown assailant(s) threw a brick through a window to break in and then pried open a cash register. It's not clear if the burglary and the earlier act of vandalism are connected.
The shattered window will cost $500 to $600 to replace, owner Layla Malia told DNAinfo. Malia told CBS Chicago that she plans on installing security cameras. An online fundraising effort as already generated $2,450 after setting a goal of $2,000. Malia posted thanks on Facebook:
Myself and my staff at Grandma J's want to thank everyone for the support and Generosity you have given us. I want to...
Posted by Grandma Js Local Kitchen on Tuesday, June 23, 2015
In late May, vandals tagged Grandma J's with graffiti. Messages including, "Get out of Humboldt Park," "Don't Gentrify Us" and "We won't be Wicker Park" were left on their restaurant's window. Malia, a 20-year resident of Humboldt Park, was left confused by the accusation that she was gentrifying the Puerto Rican neighborhood. She said she was determined to stay in business, and thought her support of Riot Fest, the punk rock festival that was recently evicted by the city out of Humboldt Park, was part of the reason for the vandalism.
Humboldt Park was buzzing over the weekend with neighborhood events, including the annual Puerto Rican People's Day Parade. And like with many large gatherings, there was an increase in reports of crime, including a video going viral of a shooting on Division Street, along the parade route.
