Uptown violence claims another victim and this time it’s a business

Crime in Chicago has gotten a lot of coverage this month and for good reason. Gang fights in the street, shootings almost daily and violent muggings in supposedly “safe” neighborhoods are shocking to many. Sudden, inexplicable and unnecessarily violent. These attacks leave victims feeling more than just a few dollars lighter.

But what of the impact on local business? On property values and neighborhood stability? History shows that people will sell their homes even at a loss and move away. They will alter daily activities, stay home at night and avoid places in crime hotspots.

I recently received a note from a local business owner. He’s closing his store after  a decade in Chicago’s Uptown neighborhood. Here’s just a bit of what the notice said:

“After almost 10 years on Wilson Avenue, Unique So Chique is leaving the Uptown community… We want to thank all of our customers who have supported us for so many years. As many have heard in recent news reports, Uptown is suffering from yet another year of increased gang activity and violent crime in the blocks surrounding our business. This affects businesses that depend on customers not only from outside our neighborhood, but also those who live in the community and are afraid to walk our streets. This is magnified further by this economic downturn. We are sad to go but all good things must come to an end …”

Owner Rob Davis is moving his business to Kewanee, Ill., a small town far to the West of Chicago. There are more reasons than rising crime of course, including tussles with the local alderman who issues permits. Or doesn’t, as Davis contends after being repeatedly denied a permit to operate a sidewalk cafe. Just obtaining an awning for the store required a permit and took far longer than any business should expect.

Davis has been a visible and active figure in Uptown all this time. Organizing events around the few existing commercial businesses, heading up the Wilson Area Merchant’s Association and tirelessly working to attract new businesses to Uptown. I worked with Rob on such efforts at various times and his boundless enthusiasm and energy for this cause was inspiring.

Crime, politics and the economy. Rob Davis’ business was caught in the crosshairs and an entire community will be the poorer for it’s absence.