Chicago Moves to 40% Restaurant Occupancy, Longer Hours, Taverns Open Indoors
Monday, September 28, 2020
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 2:15 p.m. on Monday, September 28. *** City of Chicago Allows Restaurant Indoor Occupancy at 40%, Extended Hours for Liquor Sales, Tavern Indoor Occupancy at 25%, Effective October 1
Moments ago, Mayor Lori Lightfoot announced that the city of Chicago will allow restaurants to operate at 40% indoor occupancy (with six feet of social distancing between tables), permit liquor sales until 1:00 a.m., and allow tavern licensees to open indoors at 25% occupancy effective at 5:00 a.m. Thursday, October 1. IRA President & CEO Sam Toia joined Mayor Lightfoot for the announcement. Click here to read the full announcement. Starting this Thursday: Restaurants can expand indoor occupancy to 40%. The limit of 50 total customers within one room or space at restaurants, venues and other establishments will remain in place, as will the limit of no more than six people per table. Indoor liquor sales at restaurants and bars are extended to 1:00 a.m., and hours of operation are extended until 1:30 a.m. Liquor stores, grocery stores and other establishments that sell alcohol to-go through a Packaged Goods license must continue to cease alcohol sales at 9:00 p.m. Bars and tavern licensees without a retail food license may reopen for indoor service at 25% occupancy or 50 people, whichever is fewer. Service remains limited to no more than two hours per party, and customers must be seated when eating, drinking or ordering – patrons cannot walk up to the bar to order. Bars, taverns and breweries that are reopening indoors must partner with a food establishment so that food is available to patrons at all times (e.g., making menus available and allowing delivery, allowing patrons to order from third-party delivery services). When dining out at a food service establishment or bar, customers must always wear face coverings while seated, except when actively eating or drinking. This protects employees that may interact closely with patrons. Tock will offer a free set-up and six-month subscription to Tock Plus Lite for restaurants and bars without a reservation system in areas of the city below 60% of the Area Median Income.
Today's announcement is the result of months of persistent advocacy from the IRA in order to give restaurants and bars the opportunity to serve more people in a smart and safe way on a daily basis. By strictly following face covering requirements, social distancing, enhanced sanitizing standards, and more, Chicago's restaurants have collectively worked to affirm that they are serving diners safely - then, now, and always. These announcements are constructive steps in the right direction that will allow more restaurants and bars to keep their doors open and provide jobs to thousands of Chicagoans. We will continue to work toward all forms of legislative and regulatory relief for the hospitality industry at the local, state, and federal levels. Please contact your Congressional leaders so your voice can be heard! The IRA commends Mayor Lightfoot and her team for their constant collaboration and communication with our restaurant community during COVID-19. We look forward to continuing to work with the Mayor, aldermen, and public health experts to keep Chicago's hospitality industry on a steady path to recovery. Read more: The city of Chicago Department of Business Affairs and Consumer Protection (BACP) will host two webinars for local businesses to review the updated opening guidelines on Tuesday, September 29 at 3:00 p.m. and Wednesday, September 30 at 3:00 p.m. Click here for more information.
|
Email to a Friend
