For the second time in a few weeks, thieves have targeted a popular Chicago bakery.
But the owner says she’s focused on what’s next, not what was taken.
Stephanie Hart is an award-winning baker. She opened Brown Sugar Bakery in the city’s Chatham neighborhood in 2004.
Early Tuesday morning, there was another break-in at her business at 328 E. 75th St. – the second one in 30 days.
“A group of young men, decided to dress in all black, mask up, break our window, rush into the bakery, and steal our cash drawer. It doesn’t make any sense. I feel sad that one, they would risk jail, being hurt by glass, having an interaction with the police all for nothing,” said Hart. “I think the worst part was when my staff started arriving to work, they started breaking down because they also feel very violated. They don’t know who I am. They saw an opportunity.”
Two things Hart plans to do with her business going forward including making it cashless and installing rolling security shutters on the outside of the building.
“I have to think about the longevity of Brown Sugar and the fact that in order to stay here and continue to service this community, I just have to do some things that are required, right? Like, I don’t leave the baking soda out of the cake. I can’t leave the shutters off the window anymore. I’m going to hire an artist,” she said. “We’re going to make the shutters, the best shutters in the world, they’re gonna look amazing.”
