Filed under:Here’s which Chicago restaurants have announced they are temporarily or permanently closedIf you buy something from an Eater link, Vox Media may earn a commission. See our .Illinois at the end of October with health experts saying America is now caught in a second wave of COVID-19. Cases and hospitalizations have spiked and lawmakers have shutdown on-premise dining as hopes of one way of controlling the virus.As Chicago’s restaurants and bars struggle for survival, the latest state ban has caused more layoffs. Many restaurants are now hibernating, electing to take a break until...…Filed under:Here’s which Chicago restaurants have announced they are temporarily or permanently closedIf you buy something from an Eater link, Vox Media may earn a commission. See our .Illinois at the end of October with health experts saying America is now caught in a second wave of COVID-19. Cases and hospitalizations have spiked and lawmakers have shutdown on-premise dining as hopes of one way of controlling the virus.As Chicago’s restaurants and bars struggle for survival, the latest state ban has caused more layoffs. Many restaurants are now hibernating, electing to take a break until...WW…

Filed under:Meanwhile, backers at famed deep dish pizza chain Lou Malnati’s consider selling the companyA Boston-based company that operates under the guise of “Purely Chicago” has purchased the domain name to sell T-shirts with art featuring slices of deep-dish pizza and a baseball pennant decked out in the Chicago Cubs’ blue and red motif. The company has been using targeted ads on Facebook that link users to the site, claiming that “all profits from every shirt will be donated to a specific fund the Illinois Restaurant Association has put together for this fundraiser.”But an IRA rep...…Filed under:Meanwhile, backers at famed deep dish pizza chain Lou Malnati’s consider selling the companyA Boston-based company that operates under the guise of “Purely Chicago” has purchased the domain name to sell T-shirts with art featuring slices of deep-dish pizza and a baseball pennant decked out in the Chicago Cubs’ blue and red motif. The company has been using targeted ads on Facebook that link users to the site, claiming that “all profits from every shirt will be donated to a specific fund the Illinois Restaurant Association has put together for this fundraiser.”But an IRA rep...WW…

Filed under:Rising COVID-19 numbers, which mirror increases in Chicago, have Cook County officials worriedIt’s not the news restaurant and bar owners wanted to hear, but over the weekend, a suburban doctor from the that rising COVID-19 numbers could lead to a “clamp down within a matter of days.” Dr. Rachel Rubin, who helps coordinate how the suburbs have responded to the pandemic, echoed the warnings city . Her comments came during a Saturday news conference.This would be the third time indoor dining has been halted since March 2020 for the suburbs. There’s also cause for concern in the...…Filed under:Rising COVID-19 numbers, which mirror increases in Chicago, have Cook County officials worriedIt’s not the news restaurant and bar owners wanted to hear, but over the weekend, a suburban doctor from the that rising COVID-19 numbers could lead to a “clamp down within a matter of days.” Dr. Rachel Rubin, who helps coordinate how the suburbs have responded to the pandemic, echoed the warnings city . Her comments came during a Saturday news conference.This would be the third time indoor dining has been halted since March 2020 for the suburbs. There’s also cause for concern in the...WW…

Filed under:The city held a briefing Wednesday for restaurant and bar owners, plus property managersMayor Lori Lightfoot and city health experts told a group of about 1,000 — many who were restaurant and bar owners — during Wednesday afternoon virtual meeting that they’re worried about another COVID-19 resurgence that could lead to a third shutdown of city businesses. The rate of infections continues to surge — about 500 a day — reminding officials of the conditions in October when the state closed down indoor dining.The virtual briefing wasn’t advertised to the public as — for now — the...…Filed under:The city held a briefing Wednesday for restaurant and bar owners, plus property managersMayor Lori Lightfoot and city health experts told a group of about 1,000 — many who were restaurant and bar owners — during Wednesday afternoon virtual meeting that they’re worried about another COVID-19 resurgence that could lead to a third shutdown of city businesses. The rate of infections continues to surge — about 500 a day — reminding officials of the conditions in October when the state closed down indoor dining.The virtual briefing wasn’t advertised to the public as — for now — the...WW…

As Chicagoans feel safer to leave their homes after more than a year cooped up thanks to the pandemic, . The nine-hole miniature golf course with a full bar officially opens Friday in Wicker Park. It’s a family-friendly affair during the day and adults only at night. And, as March Madness basketball is underway, there are four TVs.Co-owners Nicholas Jenkins and Austin DeLonge spent hours in the space’s basement fabricating each hole to challenge players. There’s a fun DIY-aesthetic with a mural painted by Columbia College art students full of Chicago Easter Eggs like Chance the Snapper,...…As Chicagoans feel safer to leave their homes after more than a year cooped up thanks to the pandemic, . The nine-hole miniature golf course with a full bar officially opens Friday in Wicker Park. It’s a family-friendly affair during the day and adults only at night. And, as March Madness basketball is underway, there are four TVs.Co-owners Nicholas Jenkins and Austin DeLonge spent hours in the space’s basement fabricating each hole to challenge players. There’s a fun DIY-aesthetic with a mural painted by Columbia College art students full of Chicago Easter Eggs like Chance the Snapper,...WW…

Filed under:The restaurant won’t come out of hibernationLate last year, the owners of with those who might want to purchase their property at the corner of Halsted and Adams. Like other immigrant , Greektown has changed as many have headed to the suburbs. Development has also reshaped the neighborhood as the mystique of Randolph Restaurant Row helped make real estate prices soar in the West Loop.As restaurants temporarily closed for winter last year, not wanting to deal with the complications of keeping the workplace safe during a pandemic and trying to serve customers during cold weather,...…Filed under:The restaurant won’t come out of hibernationLate last year, the owners of with those who might want to purchase their property at the corner of Halsted and Adams. Like other immigrant , Greektown has changed as many have headed to the suburbs. Development has also reshaped the neighborhood as the mystique of Randolph Restaurant Row helped make real estate prices soar in the West Loop.As restaurants temporarily closed for winter last year, not wanting to deal with the complications of keeping the workplace safe during a pandemic and trying to serve customers during cold weather,...WW…

Filed under:Also, an update on Ramova Theater’s renovations in BridgeportAll adults in Illinois will , and that could have major ramifications for restaurants: Fully vaccinated customers — with proof — won’t count against COVID-19 capacity rules. Under current Phase 4 rules, Chicago’s restaurants and bars are allowed a maximum of 50 customers per indoor dining space or 50 percent of full capacity, whichever is fewer.According to the : “individuals with proof of full vaccination or a negative COVID-19 test (PCR) 1-3 days prior to an event or outing do not count against capacity limits.”...…Filed under:Also, an update on Ramova Theater’s renovations in BridgeportAll adults in Illinois will , and that could have major ramifications for restaurants: Fully vaccinated customers — with proof — won’t count against COVID-19 capacity rules. Under current Phase 4 rules, Chicago’s restaurants and bars are allowed a maximum of 50 customers per indoor dining space or 50 percent of full capacity, whichever is fewer.According to the : “individuals with proof of full vaccination or a negative COVID-19 test (PCR) 1-3 days prior to an event or outing do not count against capacity limits.”...WW…

Filed under:A stunning development for a Chicago iconCLARIFICATION: Wiener’s Circle management contacted Eater after publication to say they haven’t yet received a liquor license approval from the city. Revised story follows.Wiener’s Circle fans have been a little on edge since New Year’s Eve, which is the last time the Lincoln Park stand served a Chicago-style dog. During the pandemic, the stand tried gimmicks like — the staff insults may be vulgar but regulars find them part of the restaurant’s charm. But the pandemic kept the bars where Wiener’s Circle sourced many of its customers...…Filed under:A stunning development for a Chicago iconCLARIFICATION: Wiener’s Circle management contacted Eater after publication to say they haven’t yet received a liquor license approval from the city. Revised story follows.Wiener’s Circle fans have been a little on edge since New Year’s Eve, which is the last time the Lincoln Park stand served a Chicago-style dog. During the pandemic, the stand tried gimmicks like — the staff insults may be vulgar but regulars find them part of the restaurant’s charm. But the pandemic kept the bars where Wiener’s Circle sourced many of its customers...WW…

Filed under:A running list of brand-new spots plus restaurants reopening in the wake of the COVID-19 pandemicIf you buy something from an Eater link, Vox Media may earn a commission. See our .Chicago’s renowned dining scene is closer to its pre-pandemic self than ever before. , the city’s restaurants and bars can operate at 75 percent capacity with at least six feet of space between tables, . That’s welcome news for many in the hospitality industry who are hoping for a profitable summer after more than a year of pandemic struggles.There are other changes too: from the Centers for Disease...…Filed under:A running list of brand-new spots plus restaurants reopening in the wake of the COVID-19 pandemicIf you buy something from an Eater link, Vox Media may earn a commission. See our .Chicago’s renowned dining scene is closer to its pre-pandemic self than ever before. , the city’s restaurants and bars can operate at 75 percent capacity with at least six feet of space between tables, . That’s welcome news for many in the hospitality industry who are hoping for a profitable summer after more than a year of pandemic struggles.There are other changes too: from the Centers for Disease...WW…

Filed under:Plus, Band of Bohemia’s co-owners respond to workers’ allegations of wrongdoingOver the weekend, the city ordered Drinkery & Cookhouse to immediately close after breaking reopening rules. The West Loop venue’s violations included exceeding 25 percent capacity indoors, failing to maintain social distancing, and not requiring customers to wear face coverings, according to the Business Affairs and Consumer Protection’s (BACP). The restaurant at 324 S. Racine Avenue was among six Chicago businesses to receive citations for violating the city’s safety guidelines for bars and...…Filed under:Plus, Band of Bohemia’s co-owners respond to workers’ allegations of wrongdoingOver the weekend, the city ordered Drinkery & Cookhouse to immediately close after breaking reopening rules. The West Loop venue’s violations included exceeding 25 percent capacity indoors, failing to maintain social distancing, and not requiring customers to wear face coverings, according to the Business Affairs and Consumer Protection’s (BACP). The restaurant at 324 S. Racine Avenue was among six Chicago businesses to receive citations for violating the city’s safety guidelines for bars and...WW…