September 19, 2024

News - Joliet and Will County

Joliet couple's dream destroyed in 1 night of rioting and vandalism

By the end of the day, the amount raised was nearly $13,000.

By Denise M. Baran-Unland

June 02, 2020 at 6:00 am CDT

It was their dream to become sole business owners, Cassandra said. "Our family grew up going to that store," Cassandra of Rantoul said. (Denise M)

It was their dream to become sole business owners, Cassandra said. "Our family grew up going to that store," Cassandra of Rantoul said. (Denise M)

Cassandra said the Joliet store was vandalized and set on fire Sunday night as part of the rioting. Her parents Cesar Trujillo and Heidi Valle of Joliet bought the grocery store almost three years ago. (Photo courtesy)

What's especially heartbreaking is parts of the store were recently updated and remodeled. For example, a countertop near the cashier's location was just a week old, Cassandra said. "He put in new refrigerators, cleaned the floors and redid the whole outside," Cassandra said. (Denise M)

Valle's Produce sold more than fruits and vegetables. Cassandra feels the store has the convenience of a department store with community spirit of a neighborhood store. "They sold groceries and household items," Cassandra said. "It had a mini restaurant and they sold a lot of meat. Of course, they were not as busy because of the pandemic, but they still had a lot of customers." (Denise M)

Cassandra estimates Valle's Produce also had 15 employees working for her parents, all of whom were still working for her parents during the COVID-19 pandemic. But they won't be going to work today, Cassandra said. (Denise M)

"I know the police went to the store and checked it out," Cassandra said. "And they said they [Cassandra's parents] have to talk to the insurance company. With all the riots going on, they're not sure they [insurance companies] will pay or not. (Denise M)

On the GoFundMe page, Cassandra wrote, "There was a lot of damage throughout the entire building [including throwing away all of the merchandise]. My dad and step mom work very hard. They wake up early every morning to open the store and stay until the store closes. "They have invested all of their money and time into this business and for it to be taken away from them is just wrong. All of their employees are now out of work meaning they cannot support their family. My dad and step mom still have small children living at home that they can no longer support until the store can be rebuilt. "My family genuinely appreciates all the love and support from the community. I know times are hard due to the COVID-19 but anything will help." (Denise M)

Will the vandalism to Valle's Produce ultimately put her parents out of business? "I don't know," Cassandra said. "I just don't know." KNOW MORE Donate on the GoFundMe page for Valle's Produce at at bit.ly/2BfIvrI. For a video of the fire, visit theherald-news.com/video. (Denise M)

Joliet Will County

Denise M. Baran-Unland

Denise M. Baran-Unland is the features editor for The Herald-News in Joliet. She covers a variety of human interest stories. She also writes the long-time weekly tribute feature “An Extraordinary Life about local people who have died. She studied journalism at the College of St. Francis in Joliet, now the University of St. Francis.