Many bars and restaurants in Chicago are starting to only allow in vaccinated clients and introduce mask wearing policies, as more and more people get infected with the Delta variant of the coronavirus. Some are requiring their clients to wear masks and even show proof of having been fully vaccinated if they want to eat or drink inside.
For six weeks, things seemed to go smoothly at the Four Moon Tavern. Nobody was wearing a mask, according to the Chicago Tribune, and the only worry people had was just what to order for dinner, exactly like before the pandemic hit, one and a half years ago.
Things changed after a vaccinated staff member at the Roscoe Village bar recently tested positive for COVID-19. Four Moon co-owner Robbie Lane closed shop for two days and reopened afterwards with a renewed mask mandate and requiring anyone sitting at the bar to have proof of vaccination. Lane said she is still thinking about making the entire bar open only to vaccinated customers.
“I know how tired we all were of wearing masks, and it was really nice to let that go for a while,” she said. “But it doesn’t feel like things are going in a good direction.”
Measures do not always work, unfortunately
Four Moon was not the only establishment to rapidly change their protocols even without being told to do so by the authorities, as COVID-19 cases spike in and around Chicago due to the highly contagious delta variant.
Many restaurants and bars have swiftly applied new procedures after even vaccinated people started getting sick. Since the City has been recommending everyone over 2 starts wearing masks inside, more are likely to follow. Some safety measures required are those already used in recent months, masks and social distancing. Others are temporarily closing due to positive cases on staff or deciding to only allow in vaccinated customers, to protect their staff and other clients.
These measures do not always work, however. Since reopening in late June, Spanish-inspired restaurant mfk has only admitted vaccinated customers, but announced Friday it would close indefinitely. A vaccinated staff member tested positive after three vaccinated customers who dined at mfk Sunday also tested positive.
“I don’t know what’s going to happen with the restaurant right now,” mfk owner Scott Worsham said. “From a business standpoint, it is quite devastating.”
“We are definitely still a vaccinated-only restaurant,” Worsham said. “Getting the variant while vaccinated has been proven time and again to be far safer than getting infected without being vaccinated, right?”
Many establishments quickly changed protocols after staff members testing positive
This is not the only restaurant who made such an announcement recently.
Delilah’s in Lincoln Park closed for a few days after it said Friday more vaccinated staff members tested positive.
After reopening their dining room in early June, after being closed for 14 months, Humboldt Park bakery and soda fountain Spinning J announced Friday the closure of its indoor service.
“With so many breakthrough cases being reported by friends and colleagues, it just doesn’t make sense to expose even our fully vaccinated staff unnecessarily,” Spinning J said in a social media post. “This was not an easy decision to make, but with so many events and festivals in town this weekend, I want to protect our little pod of pastry people as much as possible.”
Instagram was used by Humboldt Park deli Jeff & Judes to announce on Friday it would also close after a vaccinated staff member tested positive for COVID-19. In their post, the deli urged people to get vaccinated and to “continue masking indoors because this delta variant is no joke.”
Chef and owner Ursula Siker said a masking policy will be enforced when Jeff & Judes reopens, probably next week, after only a bit over a month since masks were dropped, since their staff members have all been vaccinated.
Siker feels they were “naive” to not require proof of vaccination for customers before letting them drop their masks inside. Plans to open an indoor dining area this fall might be subjected to more harsh restrictions, but Jeff & Judes is building the space without being sure they will be able to seat people indoors.
“We’ll have to make some tough choices about letting guests inside,” Siker said. “To feel like we’re launching back into tighter restrictions will be hard, but most important is that staff feels safe and guests feel taken care of.”
The same announcements were made recently by other businesses who will only allow in customers who show proof of vaccination. Among these, Hydrate Nightclub, Berlin Nightclub and Pilsen bar Skylark.
Logan Square’s Cole’s Bar has had a mask mandate since Friday, and they already only allowed in vaccinated clients. City Winery also said Thursday they will ask patrons to wear masks.
Alternatives to wine, dine and spend time outside
Since drinking and dining inside will again become more difficult, there are even more reasons to look for options to be seated outside, but in style. So, whether you’re in Chicago for business or pleasure or you live here, but are looking for new spots to drink and dine, check out this local guide to Chicago hotels with rooftop bars, some of the best in the city.
And, just in case your looking for more Instagram perfect backdrops after those of rooftop bars, check out Chicago’s many Instagrammable landmarks, and also the
large-scale art installation which opened in late May at Morton Arboretum. The exhibition at Morton Arboretum is much more than a series of sculptures, it is an invitation to meditate and feel the Earth and its motherly essence.
“Human+Nature” is a concept belonging to the South African artist Daniel Popper and consists of five sculptures to be found around the grounds.
Another of the city’s attractions to be visited this month, when doing things outside is still the best option.
Many bars and restaurants in Chicago are starting to only allow in vaccinated clients and introduce mask wearing policies, as more and more people get infected with the Delta variant of the coronavirus. Some are requiring their clients to wear masks and even show proof of having been fully vaccinated if they want to eat or drink inside.
For six weeks, things seemed to go smoothly at the Four Moon Tavern. Nobody was wearing a mask, according to the Chicago Tribune, and the only worry people had was just what to order for dinner, exactly like before the pandemic hit, one and a half years ago.
Things changed after a vaccinated staff member at the Roscoe Village bar recently tested positive for COVID-19. Four Moon co-owner Robbie Lane closed shop for two days and reopened afterwards with a renewed mask mandate and requiring anyone sitting at the bar to have proof of vaccination. Lane said she is still thinking about making the entire bar open only to vaccinated customers.
“I know how tired we all were of wearing masks, and it was really nice to let that go for a while,” she said. “But it doesn’t feel like things are going in a good direction.”
Measures do not always work, unfortunately
Four Moon was not the only establishment to rapidly change their protocols even without being told to do so by the authorities, as COVID-19 cases spike in and around Chicago due to the highly contagious delta variant.
Many restaurants and bars have swiftly applied new procedures after even vaccinated people started getting sick. Since the City has been recommending everyone over 2 starts wearing masks inside, more are likely to follow. Some safety measures required are those already used in recent months, masks and social distancing. Others are temporarily closing due to positive cases on staff or deciding to only allow in vaccinated customers, to protect their staff and other clients.
These measures do not always work, however. Since reopening in late June, Spanish-inspired restaurant mfk has only admitted vaccinated customers, but announced Friday it would close indefinitely. A vaccinated staff member tested positive after three vaccinated customers who dined at mfk Sunday also tested positive.
“I don’t know what’s going to happen with the restaurant right now,” mfk owner Scott Worsham said. “From a business standpoint, it is quite devastating.”
“We are definitely still a vaccinated-only restaurant,” Worsham said. “Getting the variant while vaccinated has been proven time and again to be far safer than getting infected without being vaccinated, right?”
Many establishments quickly changed protocols after staff members testing positive
This is not the only restaurant who made such an announcement recently.
Delilah’s in Lincoln Park closed for a few days after it said Friday more vaccinated staff members tested positive.
After reopening their dining room in early June, after being closed for 14 months, Humboldt Park bakery and soda fountain Spinning J announced Friday the closure of its indoor service.
“With so many breakthrough cases being reported by friends and colleagues, it just doesn’t make sense to expose even our fully vaccinated staff unnecessarily,” Spinning J said in a social media post. “This was not an easy decision to make, but with so many events and festivals in town this weekend, I want to protect our little pod of pastry people as much as possible.”
Instagram was used by Humboldt Park deli Jeff & Judes to announce on Friday it would also close after a vaccinated staff member tested positive for COVID-19. In their post, the deli urged people to get vaccinated and to “continue masking indoors because this delta variant is no joke.”
Chef and owner Ursula Siker said a masking policy will be enforced when Jeff & Judes reopens, probably next week, after only a bit over a month since masks were dropped, since their staff members have all been vaccinated.
Siker feels they were “naive” to not require proof of vaccination for customers before letting them drop their masks inside. Plans to open an indoor dining area this fall might be subjected to more harsh restrictions, but Jeff & Judes is building the space without being sure they will be able to seat people indoors.
“We’ll have to make some tough choices about letting guests inside,” Siker said. “To feel like we’re launching back into tighter restrictions will be hard, but most important is that staff feels safe and guests feel taken care of.”
The same announcements were made recently by other businesses who will only allow in customers who show proof of vaccination. Among these, Hydrate Nightclub, Berlin Nightclub and Pilsen bar Skylark.
Logan Square’s Cole’s Bar has had a mask mandate since Friday, and they already only allowed in vaccinated clients. City Winery also said Thursday they will ask patrons to wear masks.
Alternatives to wine, dine and spend time outside
Since drinking and dining inside will again become more difficult, there are even more reasons to look for options to be seated outside, but in style. So, whether you’re in Chicago for business or pleasure or you live here, but are looking for new spots to drink and dine, check out this local guide to Chicago hotels with rooftop bars, some of the best in the city.
And, just in case your looking for more Instagram perfect backdrops after those of rooftop bars, check out Chicago’s many Instagrammable landmarks, and also the large-scale art installation which opened in late May at Morton Arboretum. The exhibition at Morton Arboretum is much more than a series of sculptures, it is an invitation to meditate and feel the Earth and its motherly essence.
“Human+Nature” is a concept belonging to the South African artist Daniel Popper and consists of five sculptures to be found around the grounds.
Another of the city’s attractions to be visited this month, when doing things outside is still the best option.
