Cook It Mama Café in Bridgeport reopens: New loyal customers show up to support Chicago restaurant defaced with racist graffiti

[ad_1]

CHICAGO (WLS) — A Chicago cafe tagged with racist graffiti last week reopened on Wednesday.

Loyal customers are delighted to see Cook It Mama, Sydney Blakely’s Café back in business.

“I’m very excited,” said client Eva Kowalkowska. “As soon as I saw the open sign, I said lunchtime, I’m coming in.”

“I feel really good, really overwhelmed, really busy right now,” Blakely said.

The Bridgeport business owner closed last week after racist graffiti was painted on her building.

News of the incident in this neighborhood with a racist background brought in regulars and new customers for the reopening.

“A lot of people in the neighborhood have been messaging and coming together because we don’t want this neighborhood to be known that way,” said new client Roberta Wood. “We don’t want a few bullies to define who we are and how we are perceived.”

“I feel like coming to support the cafe is something we have to do ourselves,” said new customer Victoria Sanchez. “We are here to progress, to advance and diversify our neighborhood.”

Among the customers was the alderman of the 11th district, Nicole Lee, who helped Blakely clean up last week.

Lee said there were three other incidents of someone painting BLDM in the area in the past week. The acronym is believed to stand for Black Lives Don’t Matter. Each has been cleaned or repainted.

“He doesn’t belong here,” Lee said. “This is not what the community wants. This is not the community we are or aspire to be.”

Unfortunately, the artist will have to repaint the Blakely fresco. And as Chicago police investigate the incidents, Blakely says they are moving forward, grateful for the support and focused on following up on any new cases.

“It’s amazing to see that everyone came out to show their support. I’m hiring!” she said.

Copyright 2023 WLS-TV. All rights reserved.

[ad_2]