Edison Park's local favorite, Tony's Italian Deli & Subs, experienced a traumatic start to their weekend when the owner's husband walked in on a burglary in progress early Saturday morning. According to NBC Chicago, three masked individuals armed with guns threatened him as they were attempting to steal from the deli located at 6707 North Northwest Highway. The owner, who chose to remain anonymous in a statement obtained by WGN-TV, shared that one of the burglars put a gun to her husband's head and told him to "shut the f up."
Despite the harrowing ordeal, Tony's Deli refused to remain a shut, instead choosing to open for business at 9 a.m. that day, as it has done faithfully for 45 years. With their cash registers stolen, staff resorted to using calculators to conduct transactions. The community response was immediate and supportive, with hundreds showing up to stand with the deli against this egregious act. As described by a customer in an interview with WGN-TV, "It is startling. It is five in the morning, you go to open your business and there are three masked gunmen in there. It is like, oh wow."
The burglars, who had entered through the door, causing damage to it and the deli's windows, managed to escape in an unrevealed dark-colored sedan. While police have yet to make any arrests, area detectives continue their investigation into the incident. A collaborative spirit emerged amongst the other businesses and community members, demonstrating the tight-knit nature of Edison Park. Patricia Fahey, owner of Hidden Gem Salon located next to the deli, told WGN-TV, "They’re big supporters of our salon, and we’re big supporters of their business. We all take care of each other in Edison Park."
After the deli owners posted on Facebook about the incident and their intention to remain open, patrons lined up as a sign of solidarity. "Please be patient as we are trying our best to continue to be resilient," read a poignant call to customers shared alongside the Facebook post. The owners were also appreciative of the rapid aid they received; as the anonymous owner recounted to WGN-TV, "The windows, the door was broken. I don’t know who called who, but it got boarded and fixed all within one hour." It's this spirit of community and mutual support that often shines brightest in the wake of adversity.
