Billy Corgan’s Cafe Destroyed, Mother-in-Law Injured in Car Crash

Billy Corgan’s mother-in-law was injured after a car crashed into the musician’s tea house and venue, Madame Zuzu’s, in Highland Park, Illinois (a suburb of Chicago) Wednesday, Oct. 30.

Corgan’s wife, Chloe Mendel Corgan, confirmed the accident on Instagram, though did not share any details about the injuries sustained by her mother, Jenny. Augustus, the son of the Corgans, was also there, Mendel Corgan said, but was “able to leap out of the way and was not injured.” 

Mendel Corgan explained that the car “drove over the curb and into Madame Zuzu’s, crashing through the window.” Video of the accident, obtained by ABC 7 in Chicago, showed the front windows totally destroyed, and a small red car covered in shattered glass. 

Mendel Corgan said the circumstances surrounding the accident remain under investigation. The Highland Park Police Department did not immediately return Rolling Stone’s request for comment.

“Our family is grateful for the swift assistance of the Highland Park and Deerfield first responders,” she continued. “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 opened Madame Zuzu’s back in 2012, marking the occasion at the time with a short acoustic set of Smashing Pumpkins songs. The cafe also doubles as a performance space that regularly hosts songwriters circles, jam sessions, open mic nights, and other concerts. 

“I want it to be a social hub that’s interactive,” Corgan told Rolling Stone when Madame Zuzu’s opened. “You’re trying to draw in different people from different walks of life. We want a dynamic in there. We don’t want a passive space.”