A Resilient Corner Store Faces a Sudden Crash

The City News Café—a familiar landmark on North Cicero Avenue since 1988—saw its front door battered by a stolen car at 4:30 am. Police reports detail the driver’s red‑light run at Six Corners, a chase by officers, and the subsequent loss of control that shattered windows and splintered furniture. Three firearms were seized from the vehicle.

Owner Joe Angelastri, who’s kept the shop open every day for nearly five decades, learned of the incident first from a window‑boarding crew and then through police. He described the scene as “like something out of the Middle East,” yet remained steadfast in restoring business quickly. By midafternoon, plywood panels covered the broken glass and a bold blue sign declared the café open again.

Local regulars rallied in no time. Long‑time patrons Zia Sargis and John Owens, who meet weekly for coffee in the back corner, emphasized that the café offers a sense of community absent from chain shops. “You can just come here and meet people and live in the real, physical world,” Owens noted.

Instead of volunteering for repairs, customers were encouraged to keep patronizing the café. By Friday, a regular visitor, 58‑year‑old art consultant Brad Krause, had seen the boarded windows and almost left. He then used an AI platform to generate promotional images for the café, hoping to boost its visibility. Angelastri declined the offer, but Krause remained supportive of the café’s mission.

The incident has reminded everyone that long‑standing businesses can be taken for granted. The community’s swift response and the owner’s steadfast commitment underscore the café’s role as a resilient hub in Portage Park.