Albany Park Business Owners Rally Around Harding Cafe After Break-In

Harding Cafe, a family-run establishment in Albany Park, was burglarized early Wednesday morning, prompting local business owners to rally support. Owner Jose Ruiz discovered the break-in at 3:10 a. m. , finding his front door shattered and parts of his cash register missing. Security footage indicated that the burglars escaped in a sedan, possibly an Infiniti or Audi.

In response, Curtis Bumgarner and Andrew Cookson, owners of nearby businesses, launched a GoFundMe campaign, which had raised nearly $4,100 towards a $4,500 goal by Thursday afternoon. Ruiz expressed appreciation for the support from regular customers during this difficult situation. He quickly contacted his insurance company to address the damage and had the cafe operational again by Thursday morning. Detectives are investigating the incident, with no suspects in custody. This incident highlights the vulnerability of small businesses and the importance of community support in times of crisis.