Local
Nubar Cafe marks first year in Albany Park after overnight break-in
A burglar broke a window and took about $200 from the Albany Park coffee shop hours before its first-anniversary celebration. Owner Zarya Mustafa cleaned up and opened as planned, celebrating with staff and customers.
Nubar Cafe opened its doors for its first-anniversary celebration Saturday, even after a break-in early that morning left a window damaged and the register stolen.
The immigrant-owned coffee shop at 3200 W. Lawrence Ave. in Albany Park is owned by Zarya Mustafa, who left a technology job, moved to Chicago and opened the cafe last year. The business has an all-female staff. Its name, “Nubar,” is a Kurdish word associated with fresh starts and new beginnings.
Surveillance video showed a man breaking into the cafe at about 4 a.m. and pulling out the register, which contained about $200, Mustafa said. The break-in took roughly 10 seconds, she said, and video showed at least three people leaving the scene in a black sedan.
Mustafa said the damage to the cafe’s custom windows, which were imported from Turkey, was greater than the amount of cash taken. She said she and her staff were upset and frightened when they arrived that morning.
After cleaning up the broken glass, the cafe opened and went ahead with its anniversary gathering, including cake for customers and staff. Mustafa said she wanted the milestone to remain a positive day for the business and its workers.
Mustafa said the cafe’s name reflects the idea of beginning again. Police responded to the burglary, but no arrests had been made as of Monday night.