Help Monday Coffee and Starling Reopen After Break-In
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$11,726 raised of $12K
193 donations
On November 12, we discovered that Monday Coffee and Starling, our shared home in Chicago's North Lawndale neighborhood, had been broken into.
All of the doors were damaged, and one of our large, floor-to-ceiling accordion glass windows was shattered. Inside, our space had been rummaged through, and we're continuing to discover damage to equipment and smaller technology that helps keep the café running.
Thankfully, no one was hurt. But the break-in has left us facing significant repair and maintenance costs, damaged equipment, and lost business income.
For those who know Monday Coffee and our partnership with Duo, you know Starling has never been just a coffee shop or a building.
When we started Monday Coffee, we wanted to create something that felt like it belonged to the people who walked through our doors. A place to meet a friend, make a new one, get some work done, discover an artist, have a conversation, or simply exist without having to be anywhere else.
Through our partnership with Duo, Starling has become a home for so much of that vision.
We're shaken by what happened, but we've also been overwhelmed by the love and encouragement we've received from our communities. So many of you have reached out, checked on us, and encouraged us to start this fundraiser.
We're incredibly grateful.
Now, we're asking our community to help us recover, repair, and reopen.
Funds raised will help cover:
- Repairs to the shattered glass storefront, damaged doors, and other building damage
- Repair and replacement of damaged café equipment and technology
- Emergency security measures, professional cleanup, and maintenance
- Lost operating income and essential expenses while Monday Coffee is unable to operate
Our windows are being boarded up today, November 12th, and we're working toward resuming café operations tomorrow, November 13th. But reopening for service is only the first step. Fully repairing the building, replacing damaged equipment, and recovering from the financial impact will take additional time and resources.
We have business insurance, but we're still determining what will be covered, what costs we'll be responsible for, and how long the claims process may take. We'll share updates as we learn more and adjust our fundraising needs accordingly.
Our immediate goal is to raise support over the next 3 to 7 days so we can address urgent recovery expenses and begin restoring the space as quickly as possible.
There are several ways you can support Monday Coffee and Starling:
- Donate: Every contribution, no matter the amount, helps us recover.
- Visit Monday Coffee: Once we reopen, stop by for a coffee, bring a friend, and continue supporting the café.
- Book Starling: Host your next meeting, gathering, workshop, or event in our space.
- Share this fundraiser: Help us reach the people and communities who believe in what we're building.
Cheers,
Amanda & Felton
Monday Coffee Co. & Starling