CHICAGO (WBBM NEWSRADIO) -- One of Chicago's iconic tourist destinations will be temporarily closing due to the COVID-19 pandemic.
Navy Pier announced Tuesday that it will implement a temporary closure starting Tuesday, Sept. 8 in an effort to limit the financial burden and impact of the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic on the organization.
According to the Pier, the closure will put a halt to all Pier-wide operations, including the more than 70 small local businesses, which have also experienced significantly low attendance throughout the pandemic. Public access to the Pier’s outdoor spaces, including Polk Bros Park and North and South Docks, will also be limited or prohibited during the closure.
“While this was a very difficult decision for the organization, it was a necessary one to proactively ensure the long-term success of one of Chicago’s most treasured and important civic institutions and the communities it serves,” said Navy Pier President and CEO Marilynn Gardner, in a statement. “This decision will also help preserve the future of the many on-site businesses, which continue to face hardships of their own as a result of the pandemic. The temporary closure will allow the Pier and its partners to reduce its operational expenses and support efforts to limit COVID-19 cases as we move into the fall and winter seasons.”
Per state and city orders, Navy Pier first closed to the public from March 16 to June 10. Since its phased reopening, the organization has been working to "find solutions that would enable it to continue its operations with the appropriate safety and security measures in place," the Pier said in a statement. While the organization has been able to resume partial operations and safely welcome guests back to the Pier, the destination is seeing less than 20 percent of its typical summer attendance, making it difficult to generate revenues that support its standard operations.
Since reopening in June, the Centennial Wheel and other Pier Park attractions—a primary source of revenue—have not been able to open and operate. On-site cultural anchors, Chicago Children’s Museum and Chicago Shakespeare Theater, have also remained closed.
The Pier has also extended rent relief to all of its on-site tenant partners; and all private events, consumer shows, trade shows, and banquets have been canceled in the Pier’s East End event facilities due to capacity restrictions. In addition, COVID-19 travel restrictions have resulted in significant decreases in tourism, another contributing factor to decreased attendance and revenues.
In all, Navy Pier relies heavily on these sources of revenue. According to Navy Pier, the loss of these earnings has been "devastating to the organization’s budget, resulting in a projected deficit of $20 million in 2020."
The organization said Navy Pier’s short-term closure will help limit further losses, as well as the businesses that are housed at the Pier.
Since 2011, Navy Pier has operated as an independent, 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization. Although the organization maintains facilities on publicly-owned property, the Pier does not receive any public tax dollars to support its operating costs, and depends on generous philanthropic support from individuals, foundations and corporations with the majority of revenues earned through operational income, such as rent and fees from on-site business establishments, private events, consumer and trade shows, and parking and ticket sales from attractions—all of which have been impacted by the COVID-19 pandemic.
Navy Pier will continue to remain open to the public through Labor Day, welcoming guests to experience the Pier’s free arts and cultural programs, restaurants, retail shops, tour boats and dining cruises, with multiple layers of safety precautions in place.
Navy Pier anticipates reopening in spring of 2021. For more information and updates related to Navy Pier’s closure and reopening status, please visit www.navypier.org.