Chicago Beauty Supply Store Looted & Burned Down
Hello, my name is Linda Yoon, and I am setting up this Gofundme fundraiser for my uncle’s family (the Shin’s). The news of my uncle’s Beauty Supply Store in Chicago is utterly shocking and devastating as their store was looted and burned down on late Sunday afternoon, May 31, 2020.
My uncle and aunt were so excited at the notion of opening up their store after the three-month closure from the Covid-19 pandemic. Up to a week before the looting started, they were at the store stocking up on inventory, ready to get back to work. And the evening when the looting happened, they helplessly witnessed their store being looted, destroyed, and lit on fire from a distance - watching their business, retirement, and part of their souls being burned to the ground. They worked so hard with blood, sweat and tears involved, with my uncle rarely taking a day off from work even on holidays. Their business meant so much to them, as it was their joy, passion, and pride. I have personally never met a more harder working person than my uncle and thereby, it is heart wrenching to see my innocent uncle and aunt as unfortunate victims of losing their business in entirety.
My uncle and aunt are in their mid-60s, and are financially unable to start over again nor able to afford to retire. They depended on selling their business as their retirement, but how could they sell their business when their store has been reduced to ashes? Unlike chained businesses, their small business insurance does not cover stolen goods and damages caused by rioters/looters. All the stolen goods were worth about $450K+ dollars of merchandise, and with the store’s equipment, their business was worth about $550K+.
We humbly ask you for your support, no matter how small, in rebuilding the Shin’s family’s livelihood. Thank you from the bottom of our hearts, and we pray for God’s blessing to all of us during these turbulent times. We stand by George Floyd, his family, and everyone seeking change for the better.
Here are some before/after pictures from the aftermath of the looting/burning:
Before:
After:
https://www.asian-dawn.com/2020/06/07/value-beauty-supply-store-looted-destroyed-by-looters/
1. How is the campaign organizer related to the intended recipient of the funds:
Julie Shin is the Small Business Owner's daughter of Value Beauty Supply at 2357 E. 75th St., Chicago, IL 60649.
2. How will the funds be used for this campaign?
The funds will be used to possibly rebuild a smaller business for the purchase of equipment (computers, glass cases/displays, shelves, printers, cash registers, and security system), merchandise, and deposit of a new lease as the entire building will have to be rebuilt. The entire store, with all the merchandise and equipment in it, was looted and/or damaged by the fire.
3. Is the intended recipient in control of the withdrawals? If not, is there a clear path for the funds to reach them?
All funds will be directly deposited to Julie Shin’s parents’ (Sam Shin and Lan Shin) account.