Chicago Moves to 50% Occupancy, 1:00 a.m. Liquor Sales, Divided Spaces at Restaurants, Bars, Events

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

Please see the below resources and information for your business - updated as of 11:45 a.m. on Tuesday, March 2.

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Chicago Allows 50% Occupancy, 1:00 a.m. Liquor Sales, Divided Spaces at Restaurants, Bars, and Events

Today, Mayor Lightfoot, the Chicago Department of Public Health (CDPH) and the Department of Business Affairs and Consumer Protection (BACP) announced that, effective immediately, indoor capacity at restaurants, bars, and events can increase to 50% or 50 people within one room or space (whichever is less) and establishments can remain open for on-site liquor service until 1:00 a.m.

Additionally, larger establishments that can fit more than 50 people within a room at 50% capacity can use impermeable barriers such as plexiglass in order to divide rooms into multiple spaces. Provided that these spaces are fully divided by impermeable barriers, and that tables are six feet apart with no more than six people per table, establishments may have the lesser of 50% capacity or 50 people within each space.

Click here to read the full announcement. The city's guidance on dividing rooms with impermeable barriers will be released later today.

The IRA thanks Mayor Lightfoot and her team for listening to the needs of the hospitality community as Chicago continues on a safe and steady path to reopening and recovery.

Click here to review the updated regulations for restaurants and bars in the city of Chicago.

Cook County, which had recently aligned its reopening measures with the city of Chicago, has not yet made an announcement that it will adopt similar measures to allow for 50% occupancy or 50 people per room or space at restaurants, bars, and events. We do, however, expect the county to align with the city of Chicago. Click here to review current guidelines for suburban Cook County.

Read more:

• Chicago Sun-Times - Lightfoot to loosen grip on restaurants and bars — again — to allow 50% capacity, trade group says

• Chicago Tribune - Chicago bars and restaurants can stay open until 1 a.m., boost capacity to 50%, Lightfoot announces

• NBC5 Chicago - Chicago Increases Indoor Dining Capacity, Eases Other Restrictions as COVID Metrics Drop

• Crain's Chicago Business - Chicago increases indoor dining capacity to 50 percent

• WGN Radio - Sam Toia: ‘We are starting to see the light at the end of the tunnel’

• WTTW - Chicago, Suburban Cook County Officials Allow Indoor Dining, Drinking to Expand

Southern Glazer's Wine & Spirits Now IRA Platinum Corporate Sponsor

The IRA is proud to welcome Southern Glazer's Wine & Spirits (SGWS) as the newest Platinum Corporate Sponsor of the Association.

SGWS is the longtime Presenting Sponsor of Chicago Gourmet, and we are thrilled to have them expand their partnership with the IRA as well.

Click here to learn more about SGWS, or contact Mike Evans for more information.

Phase 4 Guidance - Six Feet of Social Distancing Between Seatbacks at Other Tables

The state of Illinois recently reissued its Phase 4 guidance for the restaurants and bars to clarify how establishments should determine six feet of social distancing between different parties.

Per the state guidelines, capacity is determined by arranging tables so that seated patrons are a minimum six feet away from patrons at other tables. Previously, tables needed to be spaced 6 feet apart. Now, the seatbacks at one table must be 6 feet from the seatbacks at the other table.

Click here to review the updated Phase IV guidelines.

Businesses located in the city of Chicago or Cook County must adhere to the guidelines in those municipalities.