Photo: Getty Images North America
Billy Corgan and his family were in for quite the scare on Wednesday (October 30) when a red Mini Cooper crashed into the front window of their tea shop, Madame Zuzu's, in Highland Park, Illinois. The Smashing Pumpkins frontman's wife Chloe Mendel spoke about the accident in a statement posted to social media, revealing that their 8-year-old son Augustus was present but "was able to leap out of the way" and avoid injury; however, her mother was hurt.
“This afternoon at Madame Zuzu’s, a car (in circumstances which remain under investigation) drove over the curb and into Madame Zuzu’s, crashing through the window and sadly injuring one person – my mother, Jenny; who was spending the day and lunching with my son Augustus. Thankfully, he was able to leap out of the way and was not injured," the statement reads. "Our family is grateful for the swift assistance of the Highland Park and Deerfield first responders. To this, Madame Zuzu’s will be closed until further notice and we’ll provide updates as we move forward. Thank you for your support and understanding.”
Corgan originally opened the shop in the Ravinia neighborhood of Chicago in 2012 and closed its doors in 2018. In 2020, he and Mendel reopened Madame Zuzu's in its current location. See footage from local station WGN News, and Mendel's full statement, below.