Early Friday morning, Heritage Bikes & Coffee, a popular spot in Lakeview, Chicago, was targeted in a break-in, marking another incident in a worrying trend for local businesses. The store, located at 2959 N. Lincoln Ave., sustained damage to its storefront and suffered the theft of two bicycles.
Police reports indicate that the incident occurred just after midnight on Friday. The perpetrator or perpetrators damaged a front window to gain entry and made off with two bikes. As of Friday afternoon, no suspects had been identified, and detectives are currently investigating the case.
For Michael Salvatore, the owner of Heritage Bikes & Coffee, this break-in is dishearteningly familiar. Despite his frustration, Salvatore expressed a sense of resignation, noting that such incidents have become almost commonplace since the Lakeview location opened in 2012. His business, which includes multiple locations, has endured numerous break-ins, and Salvatore has lost count of the exact number at the Lakeview shop alone.
Salvatore estimates at least four “smash and grab” burglaries at the Lakeview store in recent years, in addition to other break-ins at his two other Heritage Bikes & Coffee locations within the past year.
“It’s not something I haven’t seen before,” Salvatore stated. “I’m kind of used to it, unfortunately. I feel bad for our employees and our customers. At this point, I’m kidding myself thinking that it’s not going to happen again when it always does.”
A post shared by Heritage Bikes & Coffee (@heritagebikesandcoffee)
The repeated burglaries have become so routine that Salvatore’s glass supplier, Ashland Glass & Mirror Design, already has the measurements for the storefront window on file, streamlining the replacement process after each incident.
Heritage Bikes & Coffee operates three locations in Chicago. Besides the Lakeview bike and coffee shop, there are two Heritage Outposts, one in Downtown Chicago at 300 S. Wacker Drive and another in Uptown at 1020 W. Lawrence Ave. These locations combine the brand’s love for cycling with a welcoming coffee shop atmosphere.
In an effort to deter future break-ins, Salvatore is contemplating the installation of metal gates to cover the storefront. This measure, however, is one he approaches with reluctance. Salvatore voiced his concern about the message such security measures send to the community.
“I used to live in New York for a long time and never liked how you would walk around and feel like you’re in jail,” Salvatore explained. “I always felt like this city is better than that and always resisted getting the metal grates. Maybe I’m just lying to myself; maybe we all need metal grates, but the idea of it assumes someone’s going to break in — I never liked that.”
Michael Salvatore opens Heritage Bikes and Coffee newest location.
Image alt text: Michael Salvatore, owner of Heritage Bikes and Coffee, at the opening of his new bike and coffee shop location.
Recent police data reveals an increase in crime rates in Lakeview’s Town Hall (19th) police district. Burglaries, robberies, and break-ins have all risen year-over-year. Specifically, burglaries in the 19th District are up by 45 percent this year. May saw a particularly stark increase, with burglaries surging 162 percent in 2024 compared to the same period last year. The 19th District encompasses several neighborhoods including Lakeview, Uptown, Lincoln Park, Roscoe Village, Bricktown, Ravenswood, and Lincoln Square.
Alderman Bennett Lawson of the 44th Ward, which includes Lakeview, has engaged in discussions with the police department regarding the increase in crime. Lawson noted in his weekly newsletter that many of the crimes in the 19th District are not isolated to Lakeview.
“The majority of 19th District crimes including robberies, aggravated batteries and others that are rising in recent months, have occurred outside of our ward,” Lawson stated.
While Chicago has witnessed a decrease in homicides and shootings compared to previous years, armed robberies across the city are up by approximately a third. Small businesses throughout Chicago are increasingly facing a wave of burglaries and armed robberies. Some businesses have responded by transitioning to cashless operations, while business districts are considering or implementing private security patrols to combat the rising crime.
Earlier in the year, Mayor Brandon Johnson and Police Superintendent Larry Snelling announced a focused initiative to address robberies and carjackings. However, the plan lacked specific details on concrete changes to the city’s crime prevention strategies.
Mayor Brandon Johnson and Police Superintendent Larry Snelling press conference on robbery prevention strategies.
Image alt text: Mayor Brandon Johnson and Police Superintendent Larry Snelling at a press conference in April 2024, discussing robbery prevention and response plans at CPD Headquarters.
Despite the latest setback, Heritage Bikes & Coffee opened for business as usual on Friday morning. Salvatore maintains a degree of optimism, acknowledging the challenges faced by small businesses in the current climate.
Salvatore recognizes that break-ins at establishments like bike and coffee shops may not be a top priority for city policymakers. He holds realistic expectations about potential solutions but emphasizes the ongoing frustration these incidents cause.
“My thoughts are with the small businesses that this will eventually happen to, inevitably,” he said. “I feel like such a crybaby when I talk about it, but I wanted to share my story, and I want other business owners to know that you just have to take it day by day and know that there’s other people in the same boat.”
The incident at Heritage Bikes & Coffee underscores the broader challenges faced by small businesses in Chicago neighborhoods and highlights the need for continued community support and effective solutions to address local crime.
