Delivery Fee Updates, RRF Move Blocked, O'Hare Concessions

Restaurant Revitalization Fund Unanimous Consent Request

This weekend, Senate Committee on Small Business & Entrepreneurship Chair Ben Cardin (D-MD) and U.S. Senator Roger Wicker (R-MS), along with Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer (D-NY) and U.S. Senators Lisa Murkowski (R-AK), Maria Cantwell (D-WA), Joni Ernst (R-IA), Kyrsten Sinema (D-AZ), Bill Cassidy (D-LA), Debbie Stabenow (D-MI), and Cindy Hyde-Smith (R-MS) sought unanimous consent, on the Senate floor, to approve legislation to provide $48 billion in additional Restaurant Revitalization Funds (RRF). There was an objection to the unanimous consent motion, blocking the measure from passing.

As it is difficult to pass a measure by unanimous consent (a single objector can block passage through this procedure) it is unsurprising that the legislation did not pass. At the same time, it served a critical purpose – to continue to draw attention to the importance of funding outstanding RRF applications (the $48 billion would cover all outstanding applicants).

We appreciate the Senators’ ongoing efforts and will continue to advocate with them, and others, toward the goal of funding this program.

Notice of Current and Upcoming Third Party Delivery Services Regulations in Chicago

Please be advised that on July 28, 2021, the Chicago City Council passed Ordinance 2021-2862, which establishes new regulations for Third-Party Food Delivery Services, which will take effect September 24, 2021.

Beginning on that date, Food Dispensing Establishments will have the option to obtain services from Third-Party Food Delivery Services with fees, commissions and costs exceeding the current 15% limit of each online order, provided that the Food Dispensing Establishment also has the option to obtain delivery services from the Third-Party Food Delivery Service that do not exceed the 15% limit.

Click here to download the full notice, which outlines current regulations and changes effective September 24, 2021.

All Third-Party Food Delivery Service Fee Cap regulations will expire on October 31, 2021.

Food and Beverage Opportunities at O'Hare Airport - Info Session on Wednesday

In partnership with the Chicago Department of Aviation (CDA), Unibail-Rodamco-Westfield is excited to announce a new leasing opportunity at Chicago O’Hare International Airport’s Terminal 5.

With the modernization and expansion of Terminal 5 and the addition of new domestic carriers underway, URW is offering leasing opportunities for four new dining destinations in Terminal 5.

Interested parties are invited to attend a Virtual Information Session on Wednesday, August 11th at 10:00 a.m. (Central). Click here to register.

Written requests for clarification are due August 25, 2021 and proposals are due September 29, 2021 by 12:00 p.m. (Central).

A Silver Lining Foundation Offers Free Breast Cancer Screenings to Industry Workers

As a reminder - the IRA has recently partnered with A Silver Lining Foundation (ASLF) to provide access to free breast cancer screenings to industry employees. ASLF works with 15 partner hospitals throughout the greater Chicagoland area, Rockford and Elgin.

If you or one of your team members are interested, call ASLF at (312) 345-1322 and mention "RESTAURANT" to see if you qualify.

City of Chicago Department of Finance Launches Business Recovery Payment Plan Program

In accordance with the City’s plan to provide critical financial relief to Chicago’s business community, the Department of Finance has launched the Business Recovery Payment Plan Program. Through this program, eligible business license holders can enter into a payment plan with as little as $25 down with terms up to 60 months. This will remove barriers for business owners that owe City debt and allow them to resolve holds on their business licenses with minimal burden. The Business Recovery Payment Plan Program is available through June 30, 2022 for most debt types.

To help Chicago’s business owners understand how they can benefit from this new program, the Department of Finance will be holding a webinar tomorrow, Tuesday, August 10, at 11:00 a.m. Click here to register.

Yelp Information on Vaccinations and Requirements

Last week, Yelp announced that it will now allow restaurants to update their profiles to include information regarding whether their entire staff is vaccinated and if they require proof of vaccination for indoor dining. While Yelp outlines that this information can only be uploaded by the restaurant via its profile (as opposed to crowdsourcing), the company also stated that consumers will be able to filter restaurant search results by these two categories. Yelp will also monitor the profiles of any restaurants that add these features for negative/critical reviews regarding the policies.

Click here to read more from Yelp.