Local
Mi Gente Café on Northwest Side Vandalized With Anti-Mexican Slurs a Month After Opening
The owner of Mi Gente Café at Harlem and Farragut found racial slurs scrawled across the restaurant's front windows Sunday morning. Chicago police have been notified, and neighbors turned out in force to support the newly opened business.
A newly opened café on Chicago's Northwest Side was targeted with racist vandalism over the weekend, when its owner arrived Sunday morning to find anti-Mexican slurs written across the restaurant's front windows.
Mi Gente Café, located near the intersection of Harlem Avenue and Farragut Street, had been serving customers for only about a month before the incident. Owner David Torres said the messages were discovered as he prepared to open for the day.
"A little disheartening, I'll be honest ... we've had a nice welcome from the community, so to see something like this, especially in 2026, was not what we expected," Torres said.
Torres said the vandalism has weighed heavily on his staff. He has reported the incident to the Chicago Police Department and is hoping investigators can identify whoever is responsible.
The response from the surrounding community was swift. Torres said neighbors showed up in large numbers on Sunday to support the café, turning a difficult morning into a display of solidarity with the fledgling business.
The incident comes as the café was still working to establish itself in the neighborhood, having opened its doors to the public roughly a month ago. For Torres and his employees, the outpouring of support offered some measure of reassurance after the slurs were found.
Chicago police have not announced any arrests or identified suspects in connection with the vandalism. The investigation remains open.