Chicago Restaurants Begin Installing Igloos To Keep Outdoor Dining Alive

Gearing up for colder weather, some Chicago restaurants are beginning to install plastic igloos to continue outdoor dining during the winter months.

Chicago officials and the local restaurant industry have been bracing for the change of seasons this year, as the weather ushers people indoors, but the COVID-19 pandemic continues, calling for restrictions on restaurant capacity.

To help local restaurants, city officials launched a contest with BMO Harris Bank and the Illinois Restaurant Association, seeking “solutions to stimulate and encourage safe outdoor dining…during cold weather months in Chicago.” Mayor Lori Lightfoot announced the three winning ideas — out of hundreds of submissions — earlier this month.

Some restaurants in Fulton Market have started setting up plastic igloos — a structure that other restaurants around the world have installed, including because of the COVID-19 spread — to maintain outdoor seating while shielding customers from winter weather and encouraging social distancing among diners.

Beatrix, The Publican, Kuma’s Corner, Duck Duck Goat and Gus’s Fried Chicken are among the restaurants installing igloo seating as of Friday (October 16), NBC5Chicago reported.

Local restaurant owners hope to share the wealth when it comes to which winter dining setups work best.

“We’re not keeping secrets,” restaurant owner Donnie Madia told the station. “We’re sharing everything that works, every little tip. We are all in this together.”

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