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| Michael James's vermin-infested push cart garage |
On June 12, Craig Gernhardt reported on his blog that Michael James, co-owner of the Heartland Cafe in Rogers Park, was renting a five-car garage to the people who operate those little plywood pushcarts, selling Mexican corn and mayo to unsuspecting people on the street.
Hogan, James's partner in the Heartland Café, asked Craig why he linked the questionable operation of the pushcart garage to the Heartland. Craig correctly answered that he didn't, he simply (and accurately) noted that the owner of the garage is a well known local restaurateur.
The next day, June 13, I ran into Gernhardt at Common Cup, a cafe on W. Morse Avenue in Rogers Park. As we sipped coffee outside, an agitated Katy Hogan dashed across the street to confront Craig. Hogan gave me a dirty look, then blasted Craig.
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| Katy Hogan and Michael James (photo credit: John Sturdy, Chicago Reader) |
Hogan yelled that Michael James should not be held responsible for the operation, since he "didn't know" what was going on in the garage he owns. Well, it's been a month since Craig broke the story.
Michael James certainly knows about this operation by now, yet the filthy operation continues. We watched a pushcart lady docking her plywood cart in the garage a few nights ago.
Now that Michael James, co-owner of the Heartland Café, is fully aware that food is being stored in his uncooled, unsealed, filthy rat-filled garage, what will he do about it?
Our photos here, taken on July 11, show how decrepit the rotting garage is. Vermin can easily get into the structure. Food is stored in there, food you or your neighbors eat. Elotes, anyone?
RELATED:
- Analysis: Systemic Filth at Heartland Cafe, Rogers Park
- Oysters - To Chew or Spit at Heartland Cafe
- Filthy Heartland Cafe Closed for Health Code Violations
- Michael James Gets Bent Out of Shape
- Heartland Employee Calls Neighbors Assholes
- Roaches Found In Rogers Park Restaurant - WMAQ Chicago
- The Heartland in Crisis - Chicago Reader (2010)
Great gutsy professional reporting there from you men, your making a difference there for sure, the neighborhood owes ya'll a hat tip.
ReplyDeleteThats unit 5 stuff!!....Good job.
Thanks, Ray. I wouldn't call it gutsy, however. Just accurate.
ReplyDeleteSo that's "THE garage". I've taken pictures of it so many times in various states of graffiti.
ReplyDeleteNow I can add a property owner name to my report to the CPD gang unit reports.
Good article.
Thank you.