Community Raises Thousands In Three Hours For Beloved 'Tamale Guy' In ICU With Coronavirus, Two Weeks After Opening Up Restaurant

Claudio Velez, Tamale Guy
Photo credit GoFundMe

CHICAGO (WBBM NEWSRADIO) -- Chicago's beloved 'Tamale Guy' is in the hospital and on a ventilator with coronavirus, just weeks after he opened up his first restaurant in Ukrainian Village.

Claudio Velez, better known as the Tamale Guy who would wander to bars in Bucktown, Logan Square and Wicker Park selling tamales before the pandemic hit, was admitted to the hospital after feeling ill with a sore throat earlier this week, according to an Instagram post shared Saturday morning.

His condition has since improved but he will be left with hefty medical bills, so the Velez family has set up a GoFundMe to help pay for them. In three hours, the fundraiser met its goal and raised over $21,000, with over 750 people donating. 

Hello friends, we are very sad to inform everyone that Claudio has tested positive for Covid-19. He had a sore throat earlier in the week and has not been at the restaurant. While waiting for his test results his health rapidly declined within a couple days. He was admitted to the ICU and put on a ventilator. His rapid test performed at the hospital confirmed a positive Covid result. His condition is improving but he will be left with extensive medical bills. We are closing the restaurant until further notice to make sure our team is taking the proper safety precautions. We have been truly overwhelmed by everyone’s support and kindness over the last few weeks. Please keep Claudio in your thoughts and wish him a speedy recovery. If you would like to donate the link is in our bio.

A post shared by Tamale Guy Chicago (@tamaleguychicago) on Aug 29, 2020 at 7:09am PDT

The restaurant will be closed until further notice to make sure the team is taking all of the necessary safety precautions, reads the Instagram post.

"We have been truly overwhelmed by everyone’s support and kindness over the last few weeks," the family wrote on social media. "Please keep Claudio in your thoughts and wish him a speedy recovery."