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Since it's been a head spinning 6 months even for the Chicago taverns and restaurants that have endured pandemic 2020, here's a thread of key dates for Chicago's hospitality industry.
Might do this tomorrow too in even more excruciating detail.
Might do this tomorrow too in even more excruciating detail.
March 15th - @GovPritzker orders bars and restaurants closed to on-premise service for two weeks. https://chicago.eater.com/2020/3/15/21180768/illinois-restaurants-closed-bars-governor-pritzker-coronavirus
March 31st @GovPritzker extends the statewide bar and restaurant closure (and more recent general March 21st Stay At Home) order thru April 30th. https://chicago.eater.com/2020/3/31/21202057/governor-extends-illinois-stay-at-home-april-restaurants-closed
April 8th @chicagosmayor orders City wide 9pm liquor sales curfew for bars, restaurants, grocery and liquor stores. An idea initially championed by CPD brass on the West Side dealing with some problem liquor stores. https://chicago.eater.com/2020/4/8/21213970/chicago-order-liquor-sales-curfew-nightly-coronavirus
April 23rd @GovPritzker extends a modified Stay At Home order and on-premise bar and restaurant service ban thru May 30th.
May 21st @ChicagosMayor publicly skeptical Chicago will resume on-premise dining and drinking when rest of Illinois does at end of May. https://chicago.eater.com/2020/5/21/21266684/chicago-mayor-lightfoot-outdoor-dining-after-may-29-restaurants
May 30th - widespread looting and rioting strikes Chicago, up go many downtown bridges for first time in decades. National Guard arrives to secure downtown access.
June 3 - @ChicagosMayor allows outdoor service at liquor licensed businesses with retail food licenses to resume (not at taverns or tap rooms without kitchens). https://chicago.eater.com/2020/5/28/21273532/chicago-restaurant-reopening-date-lori-lightfoot
June 5 - City of Chicago announces @NavyPier but not tavern licensees with outdoor patios will be allowed to reopen to public on June 10th.
Area man very publicly loses his mind on twitter over this. https://abc7chicago.com/chicago-reopening-navy-pier-illinois-is-open/6230522/
Area man very publicly loses his mind on twitter over this. https://abc7chicago.com/chicago-reopening-navy-pier-illinois-is-open/6230522/
June 17 - City of Chicago announces over 450 tavern licensed small businesses may now reopen with outdoor service. https://news.wttw.com/2020/06/15/chicago-bars-reopen-june-17-outdoor-service
June 23rd - @GovPritzker announces Illinois can resume indoor bar or restaurant service as long as all tables are socially distanced, with masks and other safety precautions required. @chicagosmayor opts out of that statewide timeline.
June 26 - City of Chicago allows indoor service to resume at taverns and restaurants with maximum indoor occupancy of 25% posted occupancy, or 50 people maximum, whichever is lower. https://www.chicagotribune.com/coronavirus/ct-coronavirus-chicago-restaurants-opening-indoor-dining-0619-20200619-bjwins56yvge5pl5uube7jmw4i-story.html
July 11th - Chicago amends 11pm sales on-premise alcohol sales curfew, adds requirements that tavern and restaurant customers must be gone by midnight. https://www.nbcchicago.com/news/local/chicago-bars-and-restaurants-now-required-to-close-by-midnight/2302861/
July 24th - Chicago curtails indoor service at tavern licensees without food. Kills Guthries Tavern. Vague future assistance to taverns promised. https://abc7chicago.com/chicago-covid-coronavirus-restrictions-guthries-closing/6326822/
July 31st - Chicago announces sidewalk cafes for tavern licensees without retail food licenses will be allowed for first time in decades, can also participate in expanded outdoor dining (street) permit process. https://chicago.eater.com/2020/7/31/21349933/bars-taverns-breweries-chicago-sidewalk-outdoor-service-permit-coronavirus-covid-19-chicago
August 6th - City of Chicago announces “Winter design challenge” for hospitality industry with three $5000 prizes available for winning ideas. Eventually over 600 ideas entered.
August 10th - Another round of widespread looting in Chicago. Downtown bridges go up again. Many downtown hospitality businesses attacked again.
And that basically brings us to the present. Nothing has changed in terms of local rules or aid since early summer. No second round of PPP for small biz or new unemployment benefit has emerged from Congress.
Winter's coming. Chicago hospitality faces an extinction level event.
Winter's coming. Chicago hospitality faces an extinction level event.
