(WBBM NEWSRADIO) — Representatives of independent restaurants went to Chicago City Hall on Monday to ask that they be paid for services rendered during the pandemic.
Roger Romanelli of the Chicago Restaurants Coalition held up an invoice for $48 billion that he said represents COVID-related costs borne by the nation's nearly 200,000 independent restaurant owners.
Restaurants had to shell out money for COVID-mitigation equipment and training and were shut down by the order of governments, advocates say. During the pandemic, Romanelli said, the industry answered the call.
"America's restaurants have been part of the heroes to defeat the virus, keep people safe, to protect our employees, the customers, the public," he said.
The group is urging Mayor Lightfoot, Gov. Pritzker and Illinois' two U.S. senators to help get a relief measure passed in Washington, as soon as this week.
Romanelli said thousands of financially strapped restaurants could close this spring if no additional aid is provided.
