Pastry chef beaten outside Lincoln Square cafe
CHICAGO (WLS) -- A pastry chef at a popular Lincoln Square coffee shop is recovering after he was severely beaten outside of the business. He was attacked early Friday morning outside Beans and Bagels in the 2600-block of West Leland.
As a steady stream of customers went into Beans and Bagels caf, some stopped in their tracks to read the sign posted on the front door. It says that pastry chef Jean-Yves Martin was attacked outside of the building early Friday morning and sustained injuries that may keep him from baking for a while.
"I mean, I didn't think this was that type of neighborhood, but I guess all of Chicago is that type of neighborhood sometimes," said Peter Garbis, patron.
Martin declined to go on camera, but told ABC7 that he was bringing his pastries to Beans and Bagels on Friday morning at 4 a.m. when a man was urinating on the front door of the business. Martin says the two got into an argument, leading to him being punched and kicked by three of the man's friends.
Martin was treated at a hospital for injuries that include a shattered wrist. He says he'll need metal screws to stabilize it.
Customers say Martin's pastries, especially his variety of croissants, are one of the main reasons they keep coming back to the neighborhood cafe.
"We were incredibly sad, and of course it's a huge loss. It's such a strange thing to happen in our neighborhood. We have a 6-month-old baby and it makes you nervous about walking around the neighborhood," said Mary Hoxworth, patron.
But the Lincoln Square-Ravenswood Chamber of Commerce says residents should not fear for their safety. In a statement, a spokesperson said: "Our thoughts are with Beans & Bagels beloved chef. The Rockwell community is a very safe neighborhood and we are working with the Chicago Police Department District 19 to provide our business community with safety information."
Martin says he's not sure when he'll be able to bake again. Chicago police said they are investigating, but no one is in custody.
