The city’s public health commissioner hopes that restaurants can reopen this weekend.
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The tables in Chicago are still empty, but some form of indoor dining may be just days away. Christos Intzempapzakis, the general manager of all three Meli Cafe locations, says it would be a lifeline.
“It would be a very welcome change,” said Intzempapzakis. “It would be something better than what we have so far.”
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Already this weekend, the authorities say, the city could descend to Level 1, allowing limited indoor meals …
“We need to remain diligent, but I am optimistic that we will see indoor dining in restaurants relatively soon,” said Mayor Lori Lightfoot.
As restaurants become creative in the cold and snow to create outdoor tables, some say the reopening of partial indoor meals should have already been done for struggling establishments.
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“Even if they opened yesterday, it is still too late,” said Intzempapzakis. “Some people are just walking around.”
Sam Sanchez, the owner of Moe’s Cantina and Old Crow Smokehouse, thinks the news is positive and believes that all restaurants should be able to open for indoor dinners with the appropriate social distance immediately.
“We expect there to be more than 25 people per restaurant,” said Sanchez. “We hope that the curfew does not end at 10 pm.”
Dr. Allison Arwady, the city health commissioner, said the number of COVID-19 cases has been steadily declining since January 8. She said she is very optimistic that some indoor restaurants will be able to return any day.
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