FRIDAY, JULY 3
Post on Your Social Channels at 11:00 a.m. - Covered Faces Keep Open Places!
Please take one minute to share "Covered Faces Keep Open Places" on social.

We are seeing cities and states around the country slow down or shut down their reopening plans. To help ensure this does not happen in Illinois, we need you to share a message on your social media channels to encourage restaurateurs and diners to follow the public health guidelines, be safe, and keep Illinois open. 

Post the above graphic - in  English  or  Spanish  - to your Instagram and/or Facebook pages today at 11:00 a.m.

Posting Instructions

  • Timing: Today, Friday, July 3 at 11:00 a.m. CST.
  • Post the above graphic - in English or Spanish - to Instagram and/or Facebook, and tag the Illinois Restaurant Association (@illinoisrestaurants) in your post.
  • Utilize the below suggested copy and feel free to adjust to suit your tone/style!
  • Tag 2-3 of your colleagues in the restaurant/hospitality industry in your post.
  • Include the hashtag #CoveredFacesKeepOpenPlaces in your post

Sample Post Language

"We cannot allow our restaurants and bars to slide backwards, as we’ve seen happen in other states. Let’s all stay safe and keep our businesses open! I urge fellow operators and restaurant-goers to strictly follow local and state public safety guidelines. Wear your mask, keep social distancing, follow occupancy rules and ensure compliance. The Illinois Restaurant Promise can be found at  illinoisrestaurants.org . Follow the guidelines, and let’s keep our restaurants and bars moving forward. We are in this together! #CoveredFacesKeepOpenPlaces @illinoisrestaurants @Tag2 @Tag3 @Tag3"

Check out videos below from IRA President & CEO Sam Toia (in English) and IRA First Vice Chairman Sam Sanchez of Old Crow Smokehouse and Moe's Cantina (in Spanish) on how "Covered Faces Keep Open Places".
Input Needed: Restaurant Recovery Priorities
As July 4th draws near, restaurants across the country remain crippled, with challenges that are not going away anytime soon for owners, operators, and employees. For over sixteen weeks, the IRA, National Restaurant Association and other state partners have led the charge at the federal, state, and local level in calling for a comprehensive response from our government.

You have answered our calls to action and Congress has heard you – through almost 500,000 emails you’ve sent to Capitol Hill. Republicans and Democrats are considering whether to craft a  new coronavirus stimulus bill  in late July, and they have asked the IRA and National Restaurant Association for guidance on how best to assist the industry.

In April, we  wrote congressional leaders  to unveil our “Blueprint for Recovery.” But as the challenge to our industry evolves, so should our recovery plan. Working with our membership, we have a list of potential policy initiatives, but we need  your input  in identifying which ones to prioritize. We will unveil our updated Blueprint later this month.

We have prepared a survey that outlines our ideas, and allows you to rank the ones that would be most impactful for your restaurant or the industry as a whole. Together, we will continue to advance a policy agenda that reflects the unique needs of this vital industry. 

Click here  to take the 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 10:00 a.m. on Friday, July 3.