As owner of Café La Fortuna, a family-owned small business, ANGELA LAVELLI feels grateful too her loyal patrons for sticking with them during the COVID-19 pandemic that forced many businesses to close. “Keeping my customers safe and my business open was my biggest priority,” she says. “The pandemic caused a frenzy and need for food carry-out and delivery. As such, I had to create a new way to do business, one that incorporated phone and online ordering, and deliveries.” In order to abide by the CDC guidelines, Lavelli had to pivot quickly. She remodeled and reorganized the layout of the store in order to create a better flow for customers that allowed them to walk in, order, get their order, and walk out all in a matter of minutes. “The overwhelming support from our customers allowed this transition to be as seamless as possible,” she says. “And, I am grateful that all of our employees wanted to keep working throughout.” After word slowly got out that Café La Fortuna was open, they began to have the street full with people in a socially distanced line and cars with curbside pick-ups. “This proved to us that the Café La Fortuna “family” we have built with our customers throughout the years is one that will keep growing,” she says. In fact, Lavelli has noticed many new faces that have become regulars since the height of the pandemic. The greatest compliment came from one of Café La Fortuna’s longtime customers: “I need your coffee to be inspired.”

Café La Fortuna is located at 46 Village Place in Hinsdale. For more information, call 630-537-1586, or visit lafortunahinsdale.com.