Campaign to Fix Restore Illinois, Chicago Plan Announced

The Illinois Restaurant Association continues to engage with local, state, and federal officials to help our employers and employees address concerns about COVID-19.

Please see the below resources and information for your business - updated as of 9:45 p.m. on Friday, May 8.

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Mayor Lightfoot Announces Framework for Reopening the City of Chicago

Earlier today, Mayor Lori Lightfoot, alongside IRA President & CEO Sam Toia and the Chicago Department of Public Health (CDPH), announced the Protecting Chicago framework that the City will be using to guide Chicago’s reopening process amid COVID-19. The framework – organized into five phases in alignment with the State of Illinois’ “Restore Illinois” plan – will advise Chicagoans on how to safely exit from shelter-in-place while continuing to prioritize the health of our most vulnerable residents. Click here to watch the announcement.

The framework lays out how the City is thinking about reopening, and the details for each phase are being informed by economic and health data, and a combination of input from industry working groups, health experts and the public. As part of the reopening strategy, the City is soliciting public input to gauge sentiment on shelter-in-place and ensure the reopening is phased in a way that eases concerns that residents may have.

The Protecting Chicago framework comprises five phases, and Chicago has already transitioned from phase one (Strict Stay-at-Home) to phase two (Stay-at-Home).

While specific dates have not yet been determined for restaurants to reopen their dine in operations in Chicago, the IRA is encouraged by the City of Chicago's readiness to proactively engage with restaurants and small businesses during this crucial process.

Click here to read more.

Take Action to Help Fix the Restore Illinois Plan

Join the IRA in our call to Governor Pritzker and the General Assembly to modify the Restore Illinois plan to allow restaurants and bars to resume their dine in service in a limited capacity during Phase 3.

Under the current Restore Illinois plan, restaurants and bars throughout the state will be unable to resume dine in operations until June 26 at the very earliest. This approach underestimates the restaurant industry’s ability to reopen and operate safely with enhanced public health measures in place.

Send a message to the Governor and leaders in the General Assembly to consider these recommendations and collaborate with the restaurant industry to allow for restaurants and bars to safely reopen their dine in operations during Phase 3 of Restore Illinois.

Read more about the IRA's ongoing efforts:

• WGN - President of the IRA urges Pritzker to let restaurants open on June 1

  Capitol Fax - Toia crusades for his members

  Eater Chicago - Restaurants Owners Want to Open Earlier Than What Pritzker’s Plan Outlined

  Crain's Chicago - Pushback builds on Pritzker's reopening plan

  Chicago Tonight - Restaurants Warn of Mass Closures Under Pritzker’s Plan to Reopen

IRA Letter: Allow Restaurants to Resume Dine In Operations in Phase 3

Yesterday, the IRA issued a letter to Governor J.B. Pritzker to respectfully request that the state reconsider their approach in Restore Illinois to allow for restaurants to safely resume dine in service during Phase 3.

Click here to read the full letter.

Continued Impact of COVID-19 on the Restaurant Industry

The devastating impact of the coronavirus pandemic on the U.S. labor market continues to come into focus. Not surprisingly, restaurants have suffered far more job losses—nearly three times more jobs—than any other industry. Eating and drinking places lost 5.5 million jobs in April on a seasonally adjusted basis, according to preliminary data from the Bureau of Labor Statistics. This followed a net decline of nearly a half-million jobs in March. Additionally:

• Over three decades of restaurant jobs were lost during the last two months.

• The 6.4 million eating and drinking place employees on payroll in April was the lowest level since May 1989.

Download the April employment infographic here.