Angry and panicked parents flooded the street outside a troubled Chicago dress shop, fearing their children’s prom dresses were lost when the store abruptly closed days before the big dance. But an unexpected turn of events only heightened the chaos.
For years, Humboldt Park residents who wanted runway looks for special events like proms and pageants often turned to Makeda Evans to make their dresses. She had thousands of followers on social media where she would often post photos of her latest designs.
Tatiana Gray had seen a dress Evans had done for a friend’s wedding and asked her to make two prom dresses for her daughter. They were supposed to be ready by the first week in May.
“She said come back the first week in May, she’ll have both of them ready. When May came, which was last week, she started going ghost,” Gray said outside the now-shuttered shop on North Pulaski.
Now Gray said she may be out $3,800.
“We are seeing all these things on Facebook about her messing up people’s dresses. People are livid about the dresses not being done,” she said.
Evans posted a note on Facebook apologizing to her clients and telling them she would not be able to complete their dresses. She said she was experiencing a “serious mental health crisis” and had checked herself into a hospital for treatment.
The post triggered a scene in front of the North Pulaski storefront with parents coming to see if their clothes were among those that were finished.
“There were a lot of people out here on their phones. The police were here. Very, very, very chaotic,” Thurmon Stratton, who watched the chaos from his apartment window, said.
Soon after the panicked scene unfolded, a break-in was reported at the shop.
Police were called back Wednesday night after someone broke through the front door and a group of people went inside. There was no word on what may have been taken.
While many parents are demanding their dresses or their money back, others are showing compassion for Evans and her situation.
Gray said parents are already donating gowns and she is doing what she can to pass them on to teens in need.
“I know we don’t like it or want to hear it, but we have to forgive her to free ourselves. Then we need to continue to find the solutions to get the girls what they need in this short period of time because everyone is going to prom between now and June,” she said.
Evans is asking her clients for understanding.
“Once I am well, I am committed to working things out with each of you,” she said. “Thank you for grace during this difficult time.”
