City Expands Open Streets Program For Dining In 6 Additional Streets

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CHICAGO (WBBM NEWSRADIO) -- The city of Chicago announced Wednesday an expansion of Chicago’s citywide outdoor dining program.

This weekend, five additional neighborhood corridors will close their streets to increase outdoor capacity for local businesses.

According to the Mayor's Office, the move comes as the city continues to press forward within its reopening framework, moving into Phase Four on Friday, and all operations will continue to be carried out in alignment with guidance from the city’s public health professionals. The expanded outdoor dining program will close streets and utilize the public way to allow local businesses to establish operations outdoors.

The expansion comes after the city worked in close coordination with local aldermen, businesses, and chambers of commerce to tailor operations to best meet the needs of the corridors.

The following areas are included in the expansion:

  • Balmoral Street – closed on both sides of North Clark
  • Chinatown Square – adjacent to Archer Avenue from Wentworth to Princeton
  • Taylor Street – closed from Loomis to Ashland
  • Oliphant Avenue – closed from Northwest Highway to the first alley to the North
  • 75th Street – sidewalk dining areas from Indiana to Calumet

This is the latest step in the city's efforts to help small and local businesses recover from months of revenue losses incurred from the COVID-19 global pandemic, particularly during the state-mandated stay-at-home order. The announcement comes on the heels of an ordinance passed by City Council earlier this month that temporarily removes regulatory burdens for sidewalk cafe permits and ensures establishments can operate as quickly and safely as possible. As of this week, the city has approved over 1,000 sidewalk café permits and will be sending refunds for 75 percent of the permit fee to over 500 business that already paid for the sidewalk café permit in full.

The expansion also comes after the successful launch of three outdoor dining pilot corridors on Broadway Avenue, Rush Street, and Oakley Street. Over the past two weeks, corridors have provided important information for the city as expanded outdoor dining comes to additional neighborhoods. Based on interest from the participating businesses, hours and days may be adjusted for future dining in these locations.