A mishap this week with a coffee machine flooded the Little Village Play Cafe at 6505 W. North Ave., forcing the coffee shop and hub for young families to close for up to four weeks for repairs.
Little Village Play Cafe announced the unexpected news in social media posts, saying the flooding occurred late Sept. 30 when a water hose connected to the cafe's coffee machine disconnected from the wall, spilling water across the cafe and play space. The cafe was closed at the time, but a staff member happened to pass by, spot the problem and raise the alarm.
The cafe's managers estimate the water had been pouring over the floor for three hours by the time it was discovered.
The cafe offered thanks to all the customers and neighbors who responded at a moment's notice to help with cleanup and prevent more extensive damage to the facility.
"Within minutes of sharing on our stories, so many of you showed up," a post from Oct. 1 said. "It was crazy. It went from three of us doing what felt like and impossible task of cleaning up the water to 30-40 people each covering a zone. You came in pajamas, in duck boots, with fans, mops and extension cords and Shop-Vacs and dehumidifiers in hand."
The cafe posted an update in a followup post on Oct. 2: "The water's gone, but the damage is significant. Flooring must be replaced. Drywall down. Concrete dried. Furniture, toys & equipment repaired or replaced. We’ll be closed for 3-4 weeks."
Supporters have already raised more than $30,000 to help the Little Village Play Cafe bounce back. A fundraiser on GoFundMe set a goal of $60,000, with more than 400 donations as of late Oct. 3.
Abi Gilman, the cafe's owner, shared further updates on Little Village's website, saying the cafe plans to still offer certain classes and kid activities during the repairs.
"Thank you to every single one of you who showed up with mops and fans, who sent dms & kinds words, who offered help. You’ve reminded me that maybe I didn’t build this just for you... maybe we built it for each other. Maybe this is my turn to lean in," Gilman wrote. "For now, we need your help to get through this season. Without it, I don’t know what the future of Little Village looks like."
