Chatham – On Friday, Mayor Brandon Johnson walked the historic 75th Street corridor, stopping at Tailor’s Row and Boss Shine Shoe Shop before meeting owners of several businesses that have suffered recent burglaries. While honoring Tailor’s Row owner Eric Abrams for 40 years of service, the mayor turned the conversation to the surge in break‑ins that have shaken the neighborhood.
Mayor’s Response to the Crime Spike
Visiting Brian Dantignac’s Woodshop Art Gallery, Johnson acknowledged that the recent string of burglaries can be “discouraging,” but said it only strengthens his determination to protect the community. “We’re not going to allow these folks to scare us or to vandalize us out of our own neighborhoods,” he told local business owners.
Johnson highlighted the city’s success in reducing violence, noting that Chicago recorded its fewest homicides in 60 years in 2025. He framed the new security plan as the next logical step in keeping that momentum.
Recent Break‑Ins on 75th Street
Since early October, at least six businesses on 75th Street have been targeted, including Soul Veg City, Nadia’s Beauty Salon, Paris Cleaners and Flowers First. Nearby neighborhoods such as Bronzeville and Beverly have also reported similar incidents, and a recent spate in Portage Park, Avondale, Logan Square and Wicker Park left more than 20 businesses with property damage.
Salon owner Nadia Wilkins described the October 5 break‑in at her shop as “shocking and disappointing,” noting that it was the first time her business had been broken into. She praised the Chatham Business Association for quickly sending help to board up the shattered windows.
Proposed Security Measures
Mayor Johnson said the city has “devised a strategy to reduce robberies and burglaries,” which will be rolled out in partnership with police leadership. Although he did not provide detailed specifics, he emphasized three key components: increasing foot traffic through economic‑development bonds, expanding small‑business support, and bolstering police presence.
Local business owners are calling for concrete actions, including 24‑hour surveillance cameras that can alert the public when activity is detected, and a stronger patrol presence to deter future crimes. “My hopes for the future are really having a united front,” Wilkins said. “Business owners may come and go, but we have to make sure that the residents are safe and that people feel safe coming over here to shop.”
Community‑Led Security Efforts
In response to the break‑ins, E’Clat Security Group, a Black‑owned firm on the corridor, has begun providing overnight security for affected businesses. Alderman‑candidate Allyson Scrutchens helped secure a 30‑day pilot program with the firm, and local churches have contributed donations to keep the effort going.
Bakery owner Stephanie Hart, whose Brown Sugar Bakery was broken into twice this summer, said the mayor’s staff delivered a celebratory cake for Abrams’s 65th birthday, reflecting the administration’s ongoing support for small businesses. Hart noted that while the mayor has consistently backed her shop, the immediate response to the break‑ins has been led by the Grand Crossing and Gresham police districts, neighbors and the Chatham Business Association.
Looking Ahead
Johnson announced in September that he will seek a second term, with roughly a dozen challengers already entering the race. He framed his re‑election campaign around continued support for small businesses, the opening of more mental‑health facilities, the construction of affordable housing and the hiring of young people to keep violence down.
“We have been quite effective in driving violence down, but we know there’s a lot more work to be done,” Johnson said. “Part of our effort is to attract more small businesses, grow small businesses through our economic‑development bond and to create more foot traffic, because the more people participate and support the small businesses, the safer our communities become.”
Business owners on 75th Street hope that the mayor’s promises translate into tangible security upgrades and that future leadership—whether Johnson or his successor—will continue to champion the corridor’s economic potential.
Original reporting: Block Club Chicago — read the source article.
