Support our fight to reclaim our veteran owned business

Help Us Save Our 30-Year Veteran-Owned Motorcycle Shop from an Unjust Eviction

Dear Friends, Family, and Supporters,

We are a small, veteran-owned motorcycle shop that has proudly served the Chicago community for over 30 years. Built on hard work, sacrifice, and passion, our business has been more than just a livelihood—it’s been our life’s work.

As a proud U.S. Army veteran, he was taught to never give up, no matter how hard the battle. That resilience carried us through decades of challenges as a small business owners but we found success! Today we’re facing the greatest fight of our lives—and we need your help.

Our Story

In November 2023, we moved into what we hoped would be the final home for our shop before my husband retired his wrench. Unfortunately, what was supposed to be a dream quickly became a nightmare.

We moved into a commercial space that had no heat, no gas, and no functioning fire panel—a serious hazard, especially during Chicago’s brutal winter. Despite repeated promises, the landlord failed to make the necessary repairs. The situation was so dire that the real estate broker eventually paid for the fire panel repairs out of his own pocket just so we could apply for our business license and begin operations.

It wasn’t till 3.5 months later into the brutal Chicago winter surviving without heat, we were finally told by the broker since we endured months of hardship that rent would be deferred until April 1st due to the extreme conditions. But just before that date, the landlord unexpectedly served us with an eviction notice.

We were shocked—but desperate to stay open, we entered into an agreement to pay off the judgment in installments and remain current on our rent. We honored every part of that agreement. Then, on January 10th, 2025, without warning, the landlord blindsided us and had the sheriff arrive and evicted us. Just the day before, the landlord had confirmed he would be collecting a payment of the judgment giving no indication of what was to come.

We were locked out without any opportunity to retrieve our tools, personal belongings, and—most devastatingly—our customers' motorcycles. Despite repeated requests to access the property, the landlord gave us empty promises. Instead, he began towing our customers' bikes and demanding cash payments of up to $7,000 to return them. He also refused to return our computers with all our customer files, cutting off our ability to notify them.

Although a judge granted us access to retrieve our property, the landlord defied the court order. He claimed under oath that he had returned our belongings and rented the space to someone else—both false statements. We have photographic proof that our items are still inside, and proof of no new renters. He has gone so far as to paint over the windows and disable security cameras to conceal his actions.

Where We Are Now

We are devastated—emotionally, physically, and financially. We’ve lost our shop, our tools, and the business we spent three decades building. I am recovering from a stroke and battling lupus, which has worsened under the extreme stress. My husband hasn’t been able to work for nearly five months, because he doesn’t have any of his tools and is under extreme emotional distress. We've been scraping by, delivering food to survive, all while fighting a legal battle just to get back what is rightfully ours.

The landlord has even gone to the extreme of selling our Halloween and Christmas displays that we bring to the community that has been featured on multiple TV stations

We’re now pursuing justice through the civil courts—but legal fees are mounting quickly, and we’ve exhausted our resources. Several news outlets are prepared to share our story, but we need legal protection first.

How You Can Help

We are seeking support to:

Retain an experienced attorney to continue this legal fight

Recover our equipment, property, and the value of what’s been taken so we can get back to serve our community.

Hold the landlord accountable for his unlawful actions

This isn’t just about us—it’s about standing up against injustice. No landlord should be allowed to destroy a small, veteran-owned business and walk away unchallenged.

We are not giving up. We will continue to fight. But we cannot do it alone.

Please consider donating, sharing our story, and standing with us. Join our “platoon” and help us take back what was stolen.

With heartfelt gratitude,

A Proud Veteran & Small Business Owner