A Mount Greenwood bar and restaurant that hosted a rally for former President Donald Trump in November has been closed indefinitely by Chicago’s department of Business Affairs and Consumer Protection after violating COVID-19 restrictions by holding an indoor gathering last weekend with 99 people, city officials said Thursday.
Firewater Saloon (3908 W 111th St.), which describes itself as “Chicagoland’s favorite spot for country western food and music,” will not be allowed to reopen until the BACP signs off on “a plan to safely reopen,” the agency said Thursday.
The Trump rally, held at Firewater Saloon Nov. 1, attracted a high-profile crowd, including Fraternal Order of Police President John Catanzara, former Republican Senate candidate Mark Curran and former Gov. Rod Blagojevich, whose 14-year prison sentence on federal corruption charges Trump commuted last year.
A person who answered the phone at the bar Thursday declined to comment. Firewater Saloon also operates a location in Edison Park, on Chicago’s far Northwest Side, which was cited for violating COVID-19 regulations in December by allowing indoor dining.
Other businesses cited for violating current restrictions on operating during the COVID-19 pandemic last weekend included:
Barraco’s Pizza (2105-2121 W. 95th St.) for allowing indoor dining.
Cafe Istanbul (2014 W. Division St.) for allowing indoor dining.
Canton Regio (1510 W. 18th St.) for allowing indoor dining.
Chicago-Bridgeport VFW (3200 S. May St.) for allowing indoor drinking.
Dee’s Candyland (648 E. 75th) for allowing indoor dining and drinking.
Estrella Blanca Night Club (3049 N. Cicero Ave.) for allowing indoor drinking.
Eurostars Magnificent Mile (660 N. State St.), a boutique hotel, for failure to comply with social distancing requirements.
Hookah Time & Habano Cigar (6416 N. Lehigh Ave.) for allowing indoor smoking.
King Crab House (1816 N. Halsted St.) for allowing indoor dining.
McGee’s Jukebox Lounge (7000 S. Halsted St.) for allowing indoor dining and drinking.
Mitchell’s Tap (3356 S. Halsted St.) for allowing indoor dining and drinking.
An unlicensed club at 2881 W. Cermak Road for holding an indoor gathering with 68 attendees with a cover charge. The establishment was issued a cease and desist order for operating an unlicensed club.
During the weekend, BACP conducted 107 investigations and cited 13 businesses for violating COVID-19 regulations, the agency said. Since March, BACP said, it has conducted more than 8,000 COVID-19 investigations and cited 416 businesses for violating COVID-19 regulations.