Longtime Glen Ellyn resident: 'The situation with homelessness has escalated to the point where it’s affecting everyone'
A downtown Glen Ellyn dining destination has become the latest flashpoint in a growing debate over public safety after a resident said a homeless man grabbed an outdoor umbrella at A Toda Madre and repeatedly slammed it against tables until it broke, adding to a series of reported disturbances that residents say are changing the feel of the community.
Nicole Lamberis, who has lived in Glen Ellyn for more than two decades, said she recently witnessed the incident.
“The situation with homelessness has escalated to the point where it’s affecting everyone,” Lambreis said in a statement provided to the DuPage Policy Journal. “The other day, I reported a man to the police who was screaming down Main Street. He picked up one of the umbrellas at A Toda Madre and started beating the tables with it until he broke it. This kind of disruptive, destructive behavior isn’t just bothersome—it’s unsafe for families, kids, and business owners trying to enjoy our community.”
Lamberis said she believes village officials should place a greater emphasis on public safety.
“I’m not without compassion, but we need stronger local action. Our police and Village leaders must prioritize public safety, because they are putting us all at risk! Glen Ellyn deserves better.”
A Toda Madre, located at 499 N. Main St. and operated by the Bien Trucha Group, is a Mexican restaurant with a 4.5-star rating based on more than 1,100 Google reviews.
The incident is the latest in a series of reported disturbances near A Toda Madre, according to residents who have spoken publicly about encounters involving individuals they believe are homeless in downtown Glen Ellyn.
Lauren Trumpy previously told the DuPage Policy Journal that she and her husband were eating dinner at A Toda Madre in early June when a homeless man repeatedly engaged in aggressive behavior.
"I was having dinner with my husband at A Toda Madre when a man who appeared to be homeless, and whom I have seen around our neighborhood for approximately the past month, began loudly repeating, ‘I will blow your brains out,’” she said. “A short time later, he got directly in the face of a young girl, approximately 9-years-old, and screamed, ‘Bahhhhhhh!’”
Trumpy said the episode reflected what she described as a broader pattern of threatening behavior, public disturbances and aggressive conduct in the downtown area. She and other residents have contended that police responses have often been insufficient or have not resulted in arrests.
Patrons dine on the patio at A Toda Madre in downtown Glen Ellyn, where residents have raised concerns about reported disturbances involving individuals experiencing homelessness near the restaurant. (Facebook / A Toda Madre)
Other nearby businesses have reported similar incidents. Sarah Coe, who owns Sarah Coe Design, located two blocks south of A Toda Madre, also described a recent incident outside her downtown business that she said illustrates the ongoing disruptions.
According to Coe, she recorded video from inside her design studio of an individual who regularly searched through public trash receptacles while loudly yelling profanities outside the storefront.
"The repeated shouting and aggressive language were clearly audible inside our business, creating an unsettling environment for both my staff and our clients,” Coe said in a statement provided to the DuPage Policy Journal. “Incidents like this are disruptive, intimidating, and inconsistent with the welcoming atmosphere that Glen Ellyn has long been known for."
Kristina McCloy, founder of Concerned Citizens of Illinois, also described concerns involving local businesses and public spaces.
“Downtown businesses can no longer maintain outdoor seating areas because the homeless individuals are urinating on them,” McCloy told the DuPage Policy Journal. “This has gone far beyond acceptable.”
The incidents have prompted some residents to call for increased enforcement and additional action by village officials, arguing that repeated disturbances are affecting families, shoppers and patrons visiting downtown businesses.
A group of concerned residents is expected to meet with village leaders in late July to discuss concerns surrounding homelessness.