Indoor restaurant and bar service remains banned across Illinois as COVID-19 vaccine rollouts commence amidst continually high numbers of cases and hospitalizations. Gov. J.B. Pritzker announced last week that he is “cautiously optimistic” that the state could lift some restrictions in mid-January, should the seven-day positivity rate decrease.
For many Chicago restaurants and bars, these measures won’t come soon enough. Many restaurants are now hibernating, electing to remain closed until the virus is quelled, while temporarily closing their venues. Workers continue to face difficult decisions regarding their careers, potential exposure to COVID-19 from colleagues and patrons, and a lack of financial support from state and federal governments.
Below, Eater is cataloging both temporary and permanent restaurant closures in Chicago. If you know of a restaurant, bar, or other food establishment that has closed since the start of the pandemic, please email chicago@eater.com. We will continue to update this post.
Picture Source: Marc Much/Eater Chicago
