City officials found “a high level of compliance” among Chicago bars and restaurants during the first weekend of indoor dining in nearly three months, but shut down a West Side business for hosting a party that violated social distancing restrictions.
The Drip G, 5529 W. Chicago Ave., which is licensed as an art gallery, was issued a cease-and-desist order after allowing 79 people to eat and drink indoors without social distancing, according a statement from the Chicago Department of Business Affairs and Consumer Protection.
The business, which does not have a retail food, liquor or public place of amusement license, hosted an event with a cover charge and a DJ that had “crowded drinking (and) dancing onsite,” BACP said.
Under current regulations, events at 25% capacity or 25 people, whichever is fewer, can resume so long as patrons are seated while eating and drinking, and maintaining at least 6 feet of distance between tables.
It was the only violation of COVID-19 restrictions found during 69 investigations Saturday and Sunday, BACP said.
“The return of limited indoor dining in Chicago is a significant milestone in our fight against the COVID-19 virus and a huge win for our bars and restaurants,” BACP Commissioner Rosa Escareno said in the statement. “However, in order to keep moving forward, we need all of our businesses to commit to following the safety precautions designed to keep their employees and patrons safe.”
BACP has conducted 8,236 COVID-19 investigations since March and cited 417 businesses for violations.
In addition to closures, restaurants and bars found in violation of COVID-19 restrictions face fines ranging from $100 to $500 for each instance of breaking an order set by the city Health Department and $2,000 to $10,000 for violating a BACP order. The fines are set at city administrative hearings after businesses are cited.
