ROGERS PARK — Police have upped patrols on Morse Avenue after two shooting incidents on the street this summer, a move welcomed by business owners on the busy commercial strip.
In addition to an occasional patrol from a police helicopter, officers from the Chicago Police Department's Organized Crime Bureau have been deployed to the neighborhood, according to Ald. Joe Moore (49th), who has been in contact with Rogers Park Police District Cmdr. Thomas Waldera.
Ben Woodard says some businesses worry that customers are staying away from the area:
Moore said Waldera had also added a weekend foot patrol officer to Morse while ensuring at least one patrol car each shift patrols Morse exclusively. The department's mass transit unit has also added patrols to the Morse and Howard "L" stations.
Earlier this month, stray bullets critically wounded a woman and injured a man who were walking on Morse, just east of the tracks. In July, a burst of gunfire west of the tracks had patio diners taking cover under their tables.
A bullet dinged the front of a chair's back support, according to witnesses, but no one was hurt.
Some business owners said the violence has scared away customers — while others said there hasn't been a noticeable difference.
"Customers are a little bit nervous," said Faisal Dossa, owner of Morse Gyros. "Everybody's taking a hit."
But Dossa said the violence shouldn't keep people away from enjoying all that Morse has to offer.
"The shootings are isolated incidents," he said. "It's not like Beirut in the '80s."
In fact, he said, some customers have made it a point to come eat and shop on the street more often to show their support.
Being scared, he said, was giving the instigators of the violence "power they don't have."
"People can't be scared," he said. "Don't be afraid. Come out. ... Life can't be shut down because of a shooting that happened two weeks ago. You can't let people stop living their lives because of this."
The owner of Grill Inn, who only would provide his nickname, "Eddy," said his "business has gone south since the shootings."
"Morse is a street that’s revitalized from what it used to be," he said. "Unfortunately, there’s a few bad apples in the neighborhood. ... The good people need to put up a good fight."
But other business owners said in interviews that business hadn't changed following the shootings.
"My business has been pretty steady," said Francisco "Paco" Ruiz, owner of Bullhead Cantina.
Ruiz said Rogers Park's struggle with street violence was similar to that in Humboldt Park, where he opened the original Bullhead in 2012. This year, he said, Humboldt Park has made a turn for the better after a strong police response to quell gang activity.
He said a similar shift could come about in Rogers Park.
"I think Rogers Park is there; it needs a little more of a boost. It’s right on the edge," he said.
He said he advocates for more of a police presence "up and down" Morse to relieve people's fears.
Khan Riaz has owned and managed Sub Brothers, at 1417 W. Morse Ave., for the past 18 years.
He said it has been business as usual this summer, adding that overall Morse Avenue is much better off than it used to be.
"Thank God it's better," he said, as he wiped down tables inside the tiny restaurant. "Before, it was scary."
One of his longtime customers, who only identified himself as Jordan S., said while the issue was on his mind, he was continuing to lunch there.
"I've thought about it — you want to be safe," the 76-year-old said when asked about whether the violence would cause him to avoid Morse. "You hope nothing will happen to anybody, but that's life."
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