City of Chicago Phase IV Begins Friday, June 26: Indoor Dining at 25% Occupancy Per Room or 50 People Per Room Maximum
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Today, Mayor Lori Lightfoot and
Business Affairs and Consumer Protections (BACP) Commissioner Rosa Escareno
announced that the city of Chicago will begin Phase IV - Gradually Resume on Friday, June 26.
Restaurants will be permitted to resume indoor dining at 25% occupancy per room - or 50 people per room (whichever is fewer) - at the beginning of Phase IV.
Click here
to read the Phase IV - Gradually Reopen guidelines for restaurants and bars.
The city of Chicago's Food Service Industry Working Group, which has advised the city on reopening guidelines, recommended indoor dining operations at levels that ensure 6 feet of social distancing or at 50% occupancy limits, in line with what the state of Illinois is considering. While we are pleased with the announcement of June 26 as the phase-in date, and it's a start, a 25% capacity restriction compounded with a limit of 50 guests per room is insufficient for recovery.
As one of the most highly-regulated industries, restaurants are accustomed to operating by the strictest of standards when it comes to sanitation, food safety, and other health-focused requirements. In the city of Chicago, more than 90,000 employees in foodservice have been laid off, and our restaurants have lost nearly $600 million dollars in sales between the months of March and May. Chicago's restaurants are well-equipped, willing and ready to safely reopen their dining rooms. It is imperative that they have the opportunity to do so at greater capacities before they can no longer sustain their businesses and are forced to close their doors for good.
The IRA will continue to advocate for increases in indoor dining occupancy during Phase IV with necessary safety measures in place.
Key points from the Phase IV guidelines that are updated from the Phase III guidelines:
- Each indoor room / floor is limited to no more than 50 individuals, while practicing social distancing, or 25% capacity (whichever is fewer)
- No more than 10 people per table
- For event venues / banquet halls, adhere to capacity and gathering restrictions for indoor / outdoor spaces (depending on setting)
- All patrons must be seated; counter / bar seating allowed if 6 ft distancing can be maintained between customers (consider use of Plexiglas between customers and bartenders)
- Cafeterias, buffets, or self-serve food may resume if an employee is serving the food and wearing proper PPE
Read more:
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Supporting Black-Owned Restaurants
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The IRA stands with the Black community in Illinois and around the country in celebrating Juneteenth. As we all recognize this holiday’s importance and reflect on its significance, we will continue to advocate for and amplify Black voices within the hospitality community.
To discover more Black-owned restaurants throughout Chicagoland, visit some of the resources below:
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Bipartisan Bill Introduced to Provide $120B in Relief for Restaurants
Yesterday, Sen. Roger Wicker (R-Miss.) and Rep. Earl Blumenauer (D-Ore.) introduced legislation to establish a $120 billon fund for independent food service or drinking establishments devastated from the coronavirus pandemic. IRA Board member Kevin Boehm of
Boka Restaurant Group
was instrumental in spearheading this legislation.
The bill, dubbed the Real Economic Support that Acknowledges Unique Restaurant Assistance Needed to Survive Act, or Restaurant Act, would provide grants to restaurants that are not publicly traded and have $1.5 million or less in revenue under normal circumstances.
The National Restaurant Association released a statement on Thursday that it is pleased with the bill because it reflects its proposal to Congress sent on March 18, which called for a $240 billion recovery fund for restaurants.
“The introduction of this bill provides hope of survival for small business restaurant owners from the smallest towns to the broadest urban streets. It will help these struggling businesses, regardless of the sign on the door, who are still facing a difficult and uncertain future,” Sean Kennedy, executive vice president of public affairs, said in a statement.
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Updated Illinois Video Gaming Guidelines Released
This week, the Illinois Gaming Board (IGB) posted a memorandum updating its previously released protocols for the resumption of video gaming.
For planning purposes, the Illinois Gaming Board (IGB) presently envisions that resumption of video gaming will not happen before Illinois enters Phase 4 of the Restore Illinois plan – which can happen at the earliest on June 26, 2020. The IGB will announce when VGTs will go live. Please note that this timeline is subject to change based on public health and safety conditions.
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City of Chicago Nonprofit Lobbyist Ordinance Delayed Until 2021
The City of Chicago Board of Ethics (BOE) is delaying implementation of the laws regarding non-profit lobbyists, previously set for July 1, 2020, to January 1, 2021.
In its announcement, BOE noted that: "as the City and many non-profit organizations in Chicago and environs continue to work together to respond to the COVID-19 crisis, delaying implementation of the City’s non-profit lobbying laws until January 1, 2021 is appropriate. The Board and Mayor’s Office continue to be committed to working diligently with non-profit organizations and stakeholders to understand and respond to their concerns about this law, and on working toward amendments that increase transparency in Chicago."
If you have questions, please contact the Board at 312-744-9660 or email BOE Executive Director at
[email protected]
.
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Please
visit our website
for the latest COVID-19 updates, in addition to the above resources and information for your business. Updated as of 4:50 p.m. on Friday, June 19.
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