Outdoor Dining Design, DACA Ruling, Chicago Liquor Sales Until 11:00 p.m.

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 5:00 p.m. on Thursday, June 18.

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City of Chicago On-Premise Liquor Sales Must End at 11:00 p.m., Required Posting

As a reminder, under the amended and reissued Public Health Order 2020-05, all liquor sales for on-premises consumption at Chicago restaurants and bars must cease at 11:00 pm.

If your establishment sells liquor on your outdoor sidewalk café, patio, or rooftop, all liquor sales must stop at 11:00 p.m. Food sales can continue until the time established on your retail food license.

All liquor sales of packaged goods for off-premises consumption, via delivery or carry-out, must cease at 9:00 pm.

Please read the industry notice and download the required posting for more information.

Need Outdoor Dining Design Help?

In partnership with the Illinois Restaurant Association, City Open Workshop is offering pro bono architectural design assistance for outdoor dining at restaurants. Click here to visit the resource guide and reach out to qualified professionals today.

If you are interested in learning more and partnering with professional architects, landscape designers, and zoning professionals, click here to submit an inquiry.

In addition, City Open Workshop is hosting a series of virtual design sessions and office hours for small businesses. For more information and to sign up, click here.

Supreme Court Blocks Administration From Ending DACA

In a 5-4 vote today, the Supreme Court rejected the Trump administration’s decision to end a program that provided legal protections and work authorizations to 650,000 undocumented immigrants who came to the U.S. as children. The Court found that the Trump administration’s decision to terminate the Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals (DACA) Program was “arbitrary and capricious”. Furthermore, Chief Justice Roberts wrote, “for the reasons that follow, we conclude that the Acting Secretary did violate the [Administrative Procedure Act],” and the decision to rescind DACA “must be vacated.” 

At this time, current DACA beneficiaries remain protected from deportation. Additionally, the Court’s decision returns the DACA program as it was before the decision to rescind was announced in October of 2017. 

The IRA stands with the American Business Immigration Coalition in calling on President Trump and Congress to act in the interest of voters and our nation’s ability to rebuild and recover from the coronavirus by working swiftly to provide a path to legal status and citizenship for the estimated 3.6 million Dreamers who came to the U.S. as children, including current DACA recipients, and the over 300,000 TPS holders. 

Click here to read more from CNN.

Tomorrow - Webinar on Implementing Cocktails to Go

Join Cocktails for Hope for a webinar tomorrow, Friday, June 19 at 1:00 p.m. to review best practices for implementing cocktails to go in your establishment.

Topics of discussion will include:

• What the new law allows and what that means for your cocktail program

• How to package, seal, and deliver your cocktails while remaining compliant with the legislation

• Clear up some confusion about which containers are allowed and which are not

• What labeling requirements are written into the law

• How you can get bottles for your to-go program at volume pricing without having to buy bulk

Click here to register.

Click here to download a one pager from BACP outlining the cocktails to go regulations.

Food Donations for Hospitality Workers from Tyson

On Saturday, June 20 from 11:00 a.m. to 1:00 p.m., Tyson Foods - in partnership with the Greater Chicago Food Depository, Illinois Restaurant Association Educational Foundation (IRAEF), and New Life Community Church - is generously making a product donation to those in need at New Life Communtiy Church, located at 5101 S. Keeler Avenue in Chicago.

With a contribution of more than 40,000 pounds of Tyson chicken to feed more than 2,000 families, the site will be arranged as a drive-through donation center. Attendees can drive up and open their trunk for contactless placement of food in their vehicles.

Please share this notice with your employees and industry colleagues. The IRAEF greatly appreciates Tyson's generosity in supporting our hospitality community.

Attendees should be prepared to provide information such as address and family size to ensure proper issuance of food. Social distancing practices will be in full effect and everyone is asked to wear a face covering.

IRA Classes Now Open - Get Certified

As our industry continues to face extraordinary challenges, it is more important than ever to train staff in critical food safety protocols. Protect your business and reassure your customers that you are prepared to meet ongoing challenges by having certified Sanitation Managers on staff. 

The IRA is your trusted source for training and certification. We are complying with all new safety and social distancing guidelines, and limiting classes to groups of 10 - with seating six feet apart. All attendees will be required to wear a face mask, and bring a #2 pencil for the certification exam.

Our instructors are recognized as leaders in foodservice instruction, and are certified by the Chicago Department of Public Health and the National Restaurant Association.

We offer classes every week, year-round, with bilingual instruction available in English and Spanish. IRA members receive discounted pricing.

Sign up today for a class through August 2020.

Cook County Passes Ordinance to Allow Temporary Beer Gardens

This afternoon, the Cook County Board of Commissioners voted to approve an ordinance introduced by Cook County Board President Toni Preckwinkle and eight cosponsors that creates a temporary beer garden license within suburban Cook County.

Under the ordinance, any person who, as of June 1, 2020, holds a valid 2020-2021 Cook County retailer’s liquor license may apply for a temporary beer garden license for that location.

The IRA supports this action from Cook County that allows for expanded outdoor dining options throughout suburban Cook County.

Click here to read the ordinance.

Ald. Tunney Introduces Ordinance to Extend Business Licenses

Yesterday, former IRA Chairman and Alderman Tom Tunney (44th) introduced an ordinance that would create a six month extension for Chicago business licenses.

The IRA is fully supportive of this ordinance, and we appreciate Alderman Tunney's efforts to support Chicago's business community.

Click here to read the ordinance.

Governor Pritzker Announces Business Interruption Grants Program

Yesterday, Governor J.B. Pritzker joined members of the Black, Latino and Asian Caucuses of the state legislature and small business owners to announce a $900 million package of state grant programs to support communities and businesses impacted by the pandemic and recent civil unrest. A new Business Interruption Grant (BIG) program has been created as a part of the package.

The Department of Commerce and Economic Opportunity (DCEO) will launch the first round of Business Interruption Grants (BIG) by providing $60 million to businesses experiencing losses or business interruption as a result of COVID-19 related closures.

• The BIG Program is available for up to 3,500 businesses that experienced a limited ability to operate due to COVID-19 related closures.

• DCEO will begin distributing funds to qualifying businesses in early July.

• The total program funding will amount to at least $540 million in grants for small businesses, $270 of which has been set aside for childcare providers, and is funded by the CARES Act.

In the first wave of grants, priority will be given to small businesses that have been heavily restricted or completely shut down during the pandemic and are located in disproportionately impacted areas (DIAs).

• Businesses eligible for the program must have experienced extreme hardship, demonstrated by eligible costs or losses in excess of the grant amount, since March and may continue to face depressed revenues or closure.

• Businesses must also have been in operation for at least three months prior to March 2020.

• An emphasis will also be placed on those businesses that are located in areas that have experienced recent property damage due to civil unrest, exacerbating the economic impacts of COVID-19.

Specifically, the program includes support for:

• Businesses in DIAs - $20 million for businesses that are located in a subset of DIAs that have recently experienced significant property damage, providing 1,000 grants of $20,000 each

• Bars and Restaurants - $20 million for bars and restaurants unable to offer outside service, providing at least 1,000 grants of up to $20,000 each

• Restaurants and bars with under $3 million in annual sales will be eligible to apply

• Barbershops and Salons - $10 million for barbershops and salons, providing 1,000 grants of $10,000 each

• Gyms and Fitness Centers - $10 million for gyms and fitness centers that have lost significant revenue due to COVID-19, providing 500 grants of $20,000 each

DCEO will make the application for BIG available on Monday, June 22.

Click here to the full announcement.

Watch on Demand: Free ServSafe Reopening Training Videos

The IRA is committed to helping you address information and training needs related to the coronavirus pandemic. ServSafe and the National Restaurant Association have prepared free training videos outlining the steps restaurant line level employees are encouraged to utilize in returning to full-service operations.

Watch the videos on demand below:

• ServSafe Reopening Guidance

• ServSafe Takeout

• ServSafe Delivery