CHICAGO (WBBM NEWSRADIO) -- With snow in the forecast and even colder weather ahead, a lot of restaurants are opting to close down for the winter rather than try to make an outdoor tent workable.
It has been a time of many sleepless nights for restaurant owners like Tom Konstantopoulos. He’s owned Omega Restaurant and Bakery in Niles for 20 years.
This Sunday will be the last day of business until Feb. 1; and that means no pay for his 85 employees for two months.
Konstantopoulos told WBBM Newsradio he understands the restaurant owners who have defied the indoor dining ban, and he doesn’t judge them.
“So I tried it for a few days. And I didn’t get a good response. So…I didn’t feel comfortable with it. It was something I was doing that I wasn’t supposed to do, so I decided not to do it anymore. I did it for a few days," he said.
He said he did it to give his employees more hours, but customers weren’t coming and he felt bad about defying the ban.
So then it was back to the tent, and still not enough customers.
“2021 is going to be a great year. I know it is," Konstantopoulos said.