MAY 1, 2020
James Beard Award Nominations Coming Monday, May 4
The finalists for the 2020 James Beard Awards will be announced at a virtual ceremony Monday, May 4 - the date originally intended for the 30th anniversary ceremony and celebration in Chicago.

As proud hosts of the James Beard Awards, the IRA and Choose Chicago look forward to celebrating the nominee announcements on Monday. These talented industry professionals need to be honored more than ever for their excellence and commitment to their craft.

We wish the best of luck to all the semifinalists from Illinois! Click here to read more.
Executive Orders - Stay At Home Order Extended, Workplace Poster, Face Coverings Now Required

Yesterday, Governor J.B. Pritzker issued new Executive Orders extending the stay-at-home order to May 30 and requiring new safety measures for residents and businesses .

One new safety requirement mandates that all Illinois businesses that have employees physically reporting to a worksite post in their place of business the Workplace Health and Safety Guidance for Employees and Staff of Businesses poster. Click here to download the poster.

Under the Executive Order, restaurants will not be allowed to resume on premises dining until June 1. There are also new safety rules for essential businesses - including a requirement that businesses must provide face-coverings to all employees who are not able to maintain six-feet of social distancing.

Additionally, all individuals over the age of two and without medical restrictions are required to wear a mask in public places where a 6-foot social distancing order can not be implemented.
Website in Spanish - Resources for Immigrant Communities
IRA First Vice Chairman Sam Sanchez of Old Crow Smokehouse and Moe's Cantina has developed a website with COVID-19 resources for Spanish-speaking communities.

The website includes resources for financial, legal, medical, and food assistance, and links to organizations that serve vulnerable communities.

We thank Sam for his steadfast commitment to helping immigrant populations across Illinois.

Click here to visit the website. Please share the website with your team members and colleagues.
ILCC Allows for Returns of Wine and Spirits to Distributors

Yesterday, the Illinois Liquor Control Commission (ILCC) authorized the return of wine and spirits sold and delivered by a distributor to a retailer based on ten conditions.

The IRA commends the ILCC for their pragmatic action to allow for legal returns of wine and spirits from retailers to distributors. This rule change is a part of the series of regulatory changes the IRA has urged ILCC to make over the past month that will directly benefit restaurants and bars around the state.

We appreciate the collaborative work of Wine and Spirits Distributors of Illinois (WSDI), Chicago Gourmet Presenting Sponsor Southern Glazer's Wine & Spirits , Breakthru Beverage , and other beverage groups to help make this ILCC action happen.

The conditions for wine and spirits returns are as follows:

  1. Wine and Spirits Returns are authorized only for original purchases and deliveries made on or after February 18, 2020 and on or before March 16, 2020.
  2. Retailers shall request a Wine and Spirits Return to a Distributor no later than June 1, 2020.
  3. Wine and Spirit Returns are authorized only for retailers licensed to sell alcoholic liquor for on-premises consumption or combined on/off-premises consumption.
  4. Wine and Spirit Returns are authorized for wine and spirits in the original case only. Returned cases shall include products of the same size and brand as originally purchased.
  5. Wine and Spirits Returns are only authorized for credit against outstanding indebtedness or future indebtedness. No returns for cash or same/similar products are permitted.
  6. This return policy shall not be construed to create a mandatory obligation by a Distributor to accept a Wine and Spirits Return.
  7. If a Distributor accepts Wine and Spirits Returns under these conditions, it shall accept such returns from all similarly situated retailers. Distributors criteria for accepting returns shall not be based on the volume of business transactions between Distributor and retailer or on the indebtedness of the retailer.
  8. The original sale of wine and spirits cannot have been made to the retailer with the privilege of return.
  9. The Wine and Spirits Return cannot be a part of pattern of sales and returns made between a Distributor and a retailer.
  10. All Wine and Spirits Returns shall be documented by a notation on a credit invoice as a “Stay at Home Order Return” or by a substantially similar notation. All such records shall be maintained according to all State Commission records retention and records availability rules (e.g. retailer 90-day invoice requirement; three years records retention schedule).

Click here to read the latest from ILCC.
HUB Hospitality Industry Q+A Virtual Panel - COVID-19 and Beyond

While all industries have been impacted by COVID-19, no industry has been hit as hard as hospitality. It is critical for hospitality business managers to know what options exist to help maintain their business and how to prepare to reopen when the time is right.

Join the IRA and IRA Silver Sponsor HUB International for a webinar Wednesday, May 6 at 2:00 p.m. for a webinar featuring an expert panel of speakers with diverse areas of focus within the industry. Panelists include IRA President & CEO Sam Toia, IRA Board member Patrick Wartan of Taft Law, Kristin Cronhardt of MindMeld Partners, Chris Plunkett of Sunda and Underhround, and Paul DiBenedetto of HUB.

We invite you to join us as we answer your most pressing questions. Click here to register.
Tell the University of Chicago How COVID-19 Has Impacted Your Business

The University of Chicago is reaching out to business owners to take a short and confidential survey about how small businesses have been impacted by the coronavirus pandemic.

Your feedback can help improve the types of assistance that city and state government agencies provide to help businesses like yours survive and recover from this crisis.

To thank you for your response, you will be entered into a lottery for the chance to win one of ten $500 prizes. Click here to take this 10-minute survey.
Please  visit our website  for the latest COVID-19 updates, in addition to the above resources and information for your business - updated as of 7:10 p.m. Friday, May 1.