Illinois restaurant owners were taken by surprise by the news that they're allowed to open their doors for outdoor dining on May 29. Owners say they were expecting to remain closed through June, but are looking forward to opening next Friday. There are more than 26,000 restaurants across the state, and sales are down by 80 percent. 20% of restaurants are in danger of having to permanently close their doors, so reopening could provide restaurants with some much-needed relief.
All of the rules for restaurants to reopen have not yet been announced, and should be announced in the days ahead. However we do know that tables must be 6 feet apart, and staff must wear masks. Individual municipalities have the power to make further changes, like closing the streets to allow for more tables.