Three minority-owned businesses—Resonance Massage and Body Work, Steve's Postal Plus and Sushi Para D—on the 500 block of West Diversey Pkwy. between Clark Street and Sheridan Road were targets of vandalism that destroyed their storefront windows over the course of a month. ( Resonance and Steve's are gay-owned. )
On Oct. 4, Sushi Para D was vandalized while, on Oct. 17, Resonance Massage and Body Work was targeted. Then on Nov. 4, Steve's Postal Plus' windows were smashed.
"We filed a police report and the officer determined that it was malicious intent but they have not followed up since my initial meeting with them," said Steve's Postal Plus co-owner Gordon Dugan."Our area of Lincoln Park is crumbling before our eyes with businesses closing down all around our location. I am worried this incident and the changing face of the neighborhood will affect our future as a business."
"When we reached out to Alderman Michelle Smith's office about an increased police presence on the block and cameras outside of our businesses they told me it would make the area look like it had a higher crime rate," said Steve's Postal Plus co-owner Steve Rozell.
"This vandalism may lead to other businesses being targeted because of our boarded-up windows," said Resonance Massage and Body Work co-owner Gene Storm. "I called the alderman's office to make them aware of the incident, however, they have not followed up yet."
When contacted about this incident, the manager of Sushi Para D told Windy City Times that the business' owner was out of the country and unreachable.
Another minority-owned business on the block, KC Chocolatier, hasn't been targeted; however, the owner is concerned they will be next.
Currently, the windows are boarded up and are awaiting replacement glass.
