CHICAGO (WBBM NEWSRADIO) -- Unable to seat more customers this Valentine’s Day weekend, some Chicago restaurant owners will cater their reopening message to a different crowd.
The Chicago Restaurants Coalition had been asking Mayor Lightfoot’s office to have a representative join them on weekly calls to discuss the path to fully reopening indoor dining.
After another delay in getting halfway there, the group’s coordinator Roger Romanelli said they are changing focus.
"Our efforts are going to shift to working with more aldermen and gaining the support of more aldermen, so that they can ask the Mayor to basically explain what’s going on”.
Mayor Lightfoot announced Wednesday a plan that that would allow restaurants, bars and event venues eventually to serve 50 percent of their indoor capacity. Starting Thursday, restaurants and bars can have 25 percent capacity or 50 people per room or floor.
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Romanelli said the change isn’t going to help many of its members that have only one dining room.
“This doesn’t help the vast majority of restaurants and it’s unfair,” Romanelli said.
“It helps large restaurants and restaurants with banquet rooms, but ultimately does not help the vast majority of family owned Chicago restaurants."
Romanelli said it is unfair that other businesses, such as health clubs and retail stores are allowed to serve a higher percentage of usual capacity.
“It’s a slap in the face to our restaurants,” he said. “You cannot allow bowling alleys at 40 percent where people are eating and drinking and taking their masks off and keep restaurants at 25 percent. It’s a discriminatory action and totally inappropriate.”
A boost to 50 percent capacity before Valentine’s Day “would have been huge,” and far more meaningful than Wednesday’s announcement, Romanelli said.
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Meanwhile he encourages people to show their support for struggling restaurants this Valentine’s Day weekend – which is usually a big money making weekend for the industry – whether that's indoor dining or getting takeout.
"Whether it's dining in or ordering out, we are asking everyone in Chicago to support the restaurants, especially during Valentine's Day weekend and show your love to the restaurants," Romanelli said.