BRONZEVILLE — Group leaders are exhibiting their help for Bronzeville’s Sip & Savor by sponsoring a free espresso drive there Saturday after thieves broke into the cafe.
Entrepreneurs Early Walker and George Daniels and alds. Pat Dowell (third) and Stephanie Coleman (sixteenth) are becoming a member of with Sip & Savor proprietor Trez Pugh III for the provide. Free espresso might be obtainable for the primary 300 prospects 10 a.m.-2 p.m. Saturday on the cafe, 78 E. forty seventh St.
Walker mentioned he was moved to behave after studying of the burglaries: A trio of thieves broke into the cafe after hours — twice in a single week this month — and stole high-end bourbon, vodka, desserts and muffins, in line with cafe employees. Pugh mentioned he incurred $2,000 in damages.
Police mentioned nobody was in custody, and the investigation is ongoing.
“I need this to be a motion. There’s no purpose why he shouldn’t be the subsequent Black Starbucks of our group,” mentioned Walker, who’s sponsoring the primary 100 coffees for Sip & Savor prospects. “We have to help him and let him know we’re standing behind him.”
Dowell and Coleman introduced they, too, would sponsor 100 coffees every to assist the trigger. Coleman famous Pugh’s Englewood ties whereas commending him on his dedication to staying in the neighborhood, including that an Englewood location of Sip & Savor is on her wishlist.
“This can be a workforce funding. So we’re so grateful for you and your stick-to-it-iveness,” Coleman mentioned. “The hospitality business has not been so type, particularly to the Black enterprise house owners. Let’s hold Black companies and Black individuals in our metropolis.”
Pugh mentioned he’s been overwhelmed by the love he’s obtained from neighbors and native companies. The entrepreneur was one of many first retail tenants to arrange store on the revamped Rosenwald Residences once they reopened in 2019. Now, Pugh owns seven places throughout town — together with the South Loop retailer that took over the previous Starbucks storefront on Roosevelt Highway in 2023.
In response to a KeyBank survey of small enterprise house owners throughout the nation, 50 p.c are apprehensive about inflation and rising prices, with 46 p.c feeling that their efficiency has fallen in need of 2025 projections and 72 p.c bracing themselves for the impression the present tariff wars may have on their backside traces.
Pugh mentioned he’s been in a position to climate the challenges by being “modern and artistic.” Prior to now, he’s hosted vendor pop-ups at his cafe and partnered with Black-owned enterprises like Turner Haus Brewery, which opened a taproom contained in the Bronzeville cafe in 2023.
Walker is hopeful individuals who take them up on the free espresso Saturday might be impressed to pay the generosity ahead as Sip & Savor prospects.
“Get your pastry. Get your doughnut,” Walker mentioned. “The entire function of doing that is to proceed to carry cash into the group.”
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