Chicagoans are coming forth with hundreds of ideas to help keep outdoor dining alive during winter months as the restaurant industry, hit by the COVID-19 pandemic, still faces restrictions on indoor service.
Chicago officials initiated a contest with BMO Harris Bank and the Illinois Restaurant Association, looking for “solutions to stimulate and encourage safe outdoor dining…during cold weather months in Chicago,” steering away from ideas related to delivery or takeout.
Although some feedback to the contest wasn’t favorable — some wanted the city to help find funding to help small businesses instead — many were on board, Chicago Eater pointed out.
More than 640 Chicagoans got creative and submitted ideas since the announcement.
Chicago Deputy Mayor Samir Nayekar told the Chicago Tribune that ideas will have to easily replicate for small and large restaurants. City officials are seeking additional corporate sponsorships to help with the endeavor.
One idea, for example, proposed pop-ups, using “Chicago’s parks to host city-wide dining halls that use community-based and rotating restaurants.”
Another spotlighted pneumatic pods, which “use pre-heated indoor air to provide insulated and weather-resistant, modular zones for outdoor eating.”
Another suggested dining tents with sliding walls.
That’s just a few of the unique options local residents pitched in hopes of sustaining Chicago restaurants as cold weather looms.
Three winners will be eligible for a $5,000 prize.
Top ideas are slated to be announced September 29.
The contest comes at a time that many restaurant owners fear a collapse could be coming to the Windy City.
Some have been forced to close doors already, or lay off employees, including Iron Chef Stephanie Izard’s Chicago restaurants.
“The permanent closure of Big Bricks and several other long time Chicago bars and restaurants this weekend highlights that Chicago’s locally owned hospitality businesses are facing an extinction level event as fall and winter draw near,” Pat Doerr, Managing Director of Hospitality Business Association of Chicago, said in a statement to Local News 8. “Unless the City of Chicago allows it’s beloved locally owned bars and restaurants to operate under the same reopening guidelines in place for the bars and restaurants in Illinois, there will be an enormous loss of bars, restaurants, and the tens of thousands of Chicago jobs that depend on them.”
The City of Chicago responded, crediting its efforts but acknowledging that challenges continue.
“We are coming up with creative ways to support them during this critical time but, it is more important than ever for the federal government to step up and provide additional supports to small businesses," the statement said, in part. "We know that the critical federal support may not come, however, so we continue to work with our business community to create a meaningful plan for fall and winter operations.”
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