Chicago bars and restaurants will be allowed to open limited indoor seating starting next Friday, Jun 26. Here’s what you need to know.
Earlier this month Chicago bars and restaurants opened their doors for outdoor dining service, now Mayor Lori Lightfoot says they will be able to open for partial indoor service earlier than we had all expected. Indoor dining and drinking will begin next Friday, Jun 26 to align with the State’s plan to move to phase four on the same day.
“Like all Chicagoans, I am personally excited to see them take these new, cautious steps towards safely reopening, and commend their collaboration throughout this unprecedented crisis. As we move ahead in the coming weeks and months, I look forward to strengthening our partnership as we continue our journey in rebuilding our city and becoming stronger and more equitable than we have ever been,” said Lightfoot in a press release.
“The decision to allow for indoor dining was based on the continued positive trend in the data metrics monitored by the Chicago Department of Public Health (CDPH) over the past several weeks,” said the news release.
Restaurants, bars and breweries will be restricted to 25% with a maximum of 50 per room or floor. Guests will be required to sit at tables 6ft apart in groups of no more than 10 people. Seating and drinking will be limited to two hours per party while alcohol sales for on-site consumption will have to end at 11 pm each night.
The sale of alcohol for carryout, which was finally legalized by Mayor Lightfoot on Jun 17, will have to cease at 9 pm every night.
While establishments will be allowed to reopen for partial indoor seating starting Jun 26, Chicago officials encourage making outdoor seating the priority when providing safe dining and drinking.
“This next step in our reopening plan will provide the opportunity for thousands of businesses to expand and reopen, but they must do so cautiously and responsibly,” said Rosa Escareno, Business Affairs and Consumer Protections Commissioner. “We want to give restaurants and bars ample time to prepare for indoor service so they can take this next step carefully and safely. We have made significant progress over the last few weeks and it is critical that our reopening efforts don’t come at the expense of the health of our community.”
For more details on the reopening of indoor dining, you can read Mayor Lightfoot’s full press release here.
[Feature image: Zui Hoang, Unsplash]