'I can't even look at it': Car crashes into restaurant on Milwaukee's east side

MILWAUKEE (CBS 58) – On Monday, Sept. 2, a car crashed into the front of 1978 N. Farwell, leaving a restaurant without a place to hold diners and apartment tenants forced to evacuate their homes.

This is not the first time a car a crashed into the building.

"This is the second time. Same car, the same brand, hitting the front door, but it was not as bad as this one," said Michel Aboul-Zelof, owner of the building.

Aboul-Zelof says it all happened at the intersection of N. Farwell and Lafayette. That's where a car crossed over from the right lane on Farwell to turn left and cut off the driver of the black sedan before driving off.

"I could not believe it when the neighbor sent it to me, I was like my God, it's like Deja vu, this is happening again," said Aboul-Zelof.

The co-owners of Lafayette Place, Angela Wierzbinski and Amy Plennes, say they were in shock when they got the text from Michel.

"I can't even look at it," said Plennes.

They also said it's going to be a while before anyone can sit at the bar again.

"A lot is going through our heads right now. Our main focus is getting the repairs started and communicating with our employees, our insurance, and hopefully getting our employees taken care of while they're going to be out of work for a little bit," Plennes explained.

Once repairs are done, Angela and Amy plan to put up planters or bike posts but say there's a bigger problem at hand.

"I think the biggest change needs to be with the drivers, themselves. We can put up as much signage and things as you want, but until people can take responsibility for their driving, things will still happen," said Plennes.

Michel says the city will have engineers check the structural integrity of the building to make sure it's sound.

"I am not the man that says yes or no. It looks like it [the building] is leaning down but it's not really, it just needed a little bit of help – I don't know, I can't tell," said Aboul-Zelof.

The restaurant, Lafayette Place, was closed, and no one was hurt.