Josephine's Southern Cooking on Chicago's South Side damaged in car accident

CHICAGO (CBS) -- A beloved restaurant on the South Side was damaged Friday morning after a vehicle slammed into the building.

Josephine's Southern Cooking, at 436 E. 79th St, has been a staple in the Chatham neighborhood for decades.  

Mother Josephine Wade has fed everyone at her restaurant, from the South Side to the West Side, from celebrities and dignitaries to diners from the neighborhood.

A black Chevy Cruze was seen inside the restaurant's dining area, which was severely damaged following the crash. The collision destroyed part of the restaurant's storefront. 

According to Chicago Police, a 58-year-old woman lost control and jumped the curb after trying to avoid an accident with a Chicago library box truck. One person, believed to be the driver of that Chevy, was taken out on a stretcher and loaded into an ambulance. She is expected to recover.

One employee was inside at the time of the crash and alerted police. 

No other injuries were reported. 

Josephine's owner Victor Love, Mother Wade's son, said he got the call about 30 minutes after the car slammed through his restaurant.

"Just another sad day for us. Anyway, we don't have a lot of sad days, but this is one. My mother's taking it pretty rough," he said. "I don't know what the outcome is gonna be as far as the damage for the restaurant. I've got a structural engineer on the way out. Hopefully, they can give us clearance, at least clean it up, board it up, and try to get it back open."

The lack of serious injuries was the focus of Mother Wade and her family Friday afternoon. They were determined to stay positive despite the intense damage as they gear up for a new program to feed the community.

"The main thing is being there for people," said Mother Wade.

Mother Wade has wrapped the neighborhood in love as long as she's been in business.

"I do more of that kind of work than I have selling food," she said. 

She has fed Chicago for decades—celebrities, dignitaries and those in the Chatham neighborhood in need of a meal. As a figure in this community, the damage to the restaurant was tough sight to see Friday.

"It hurt," Wade said. 

CBS News Chicago talked with Mother Wade in her home. She could not bear to see the condition her restaurant was in.

"They send me the pictures. I didn't go," she said. "I was just too shocked." 

Love says they've been at the same location for 43 years and have offered thousands of free meals during the pandemic.

"Forty-three years—a lot of work, a lot of blood. But strong people stand up and fight, and we just keep coming back. The community means a lot to us—and we, by the evidence of people showing just to help up today; my phone is blowing up-people are coming to help and see what we need," Love said. "So we're appreciative of that."

Wade and her family said they know they will get past the damage. In fact, Love said a new plan for part of the space is still moving forward.

"We're going to turn a lemon into lemonade," said Love. "We're going to be all right. We're going to fight through it and press through it."

Love is already talking about continuing plans to turn part of the Josephine's space into Hope Kitchen, where those who need help can turn to for a free meal.

"This is a little setback," Love said.

Love is still planning to open Hope Kitchen this fall.

"We will start opening up two to three days a week, and we're going to be able to just feed certain populations for free," he said.

Mother Wade and her son said while they are still assessing the damage, they are indeed set on getting back up and running as soon as possible.