The Italian restaurant Anna Maria Pasteria, located in Uptown at 4400 N. Clark St, was severely damaged when a driver crashed through its facade on Sunday night. The accident occurred at 9:45 p.m., when a 27-year-old man ran a red light while driving north on North Clark Street, causing a collision with a car traveling west on Montrose Avenue before crashing into the restaurant. Photos and videos show the extent of the damage, with shattered glass covering the floor and furniture destroyed.
The Greater Ravenswood Chamber of Commerce is coming together to support Anna Maria Pasteria by launching a GoFundMe campaign to raise $20,000 to help cover repair costs not covered by insurance and assist the six employees who are currently out of work while the restaurant remains closed. Owner Anna Spinelli reluctantly requested assistance after the extensive damage left the business with limited options for recovery. The restaurant will require new signs and windows, along with repairs to its bar, flooring, host area, and furniture.
Despite the challenges, Spinelli hopes to reopen the restaurant as soon as possible. Anna Maria Pasteria opened in 1989 by Anna Spinelli and her late sister Maria and has been a popular Italian restaurant on the North Side ever since. The sisters built a loyal customer base after coming to Chicago from the Basilicata region of southern Italy. However, this incident has put their beloved establishment in jeopardy. Nevertheless, they have received support from their local community who are determined to help them recover from this disaster.
The impact of this incident has devastated not only Anna Maria Pasteria but also affected many people in Uptown community who love this place for its delicious food and warm atmosphere. The community is rallying around to support its recovery efforts as they believe that it’s one of their favorite restaurants that should be saved for future generations to enjoy.
