CHICAGO (CBS) This has been a summer of highs and lows for Chicagos restaurant industry, as diners have seen new places open and others close because of the coronavirus pandemic.
We wondered about the spots that are hanging on.
As CBS 2s Lauren Victory reported, the patio at Wood, at 3335 N. Halsted St. in Boystown, was empty Monday because the restaurant was closed for Labor Day. So why give up revenue when the industry has already taken such a hit because of COVID-19?
The general manager said staff usually get the holiday, and especially deserved it after a rollercoaster of a summer.
Meanwhile at Chicagos Home of Chicken & Waffles, at 3947 S. Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. Dr. in Bronzeville, the syrup is still sticky. The situation is sticky too.
We usually have a full house, mostly every day, said manager Emma Hester.
A return of business is a beautiful sight, said Hester and general manager Brian Mills. But it has been quite the season keeping up with customers, and dealing with the citys constantly changing restaurant rules.
Were rolling with the punches right now, Mills said.
They and other Chicago restaurants gone from carry-out-only restrictions through Memorial Day to outdoor seating only until July 4th.
And after that, getting back to normal hit a rocky start for many including the staff back at Wood.
There were major protests in the area. We had to board up our windows on the 2nd of June, the day before we were going to first be allowed to have people at the restaurant again, said Wood general manager Jeremiah Duncan.
Before that, Wood was attempting to make ends meet through takeout orders. In April and May, the patio was going unused because of COVID-19 rules, so owners lent it to another struggling industry events design.
A popup fundraising flower shop outside Wood drew interest from sidewalk traffic that occasionally was hungry too.
There were so many question marks, but once we were able to open up the patio, the response was incredible, Duncan said.
It was a triumphant feeling, but will it continue? Labor Day will give way to Halloween and Thanksgiving and beyond, and when the cold sets in, the patios will be gone.
How can restaurants weather the cold when Chicago rules still cap indoor dining at 25 percent?
Well just have to see what happens, you know? Mills said. We dont know if well be able to open up fully or if well still have to keep our social distancing.
The Illinois Restaurant Association said its top priority right now is fighting to increase Chicagos 25 percent capacity rule. At the same time, the group is partnering with the City of Chicago to offer $5,000 cash to people who come up with the best ideas for eating in the indoors and outdoors when the weather turns.
The Winter Design Challenge ends at 1:30 a.m. Tuesday. Winners will be announced at the end of the month.
Corporate sponsors will likely fund pilot programs of the chosen ideas after that.
 
Read more from the original source:
Restaurants That Have Hung On Through Pandemic Brace For Turn Of Weather - CBS Chicago
- The Best Ottomans For Patio of 2024 - The Jerusalem Post - February 7th, 2024 [February 7th, 2024]
- Burr Ridge 3-bedroom home with Bluestone patio: $1.8M - Chicago Tribune - February 7th, 2024 [February 7th, 2024]
- The Surprising Kitchen Ingredient That Can Kill Patio Moss - House Beautiful - February 7th, 2024 [February 7th, 2024]
- Nashville's 'largest rooftop patio' getting year-round canopy - Tennessean - February 7th, 2024 [February 7th, 2024]
- Stubborn patio moss will 'disappear and not come back' with 29p miracle ingredient - The Mirror - February 7th, 2024 [February 7th, 2024]
- For The Home | Get inspired at PlantCon and create a garden on your balcony or patio! - KPRC Click2Houston - February 7th, 2024 [February 7th, 2024]
- Patio moss will disappear and not come back with 29p effective item paving expert loves - Express - February 7th, 2024 [February 7th, 2024]
- Woman shares vinegar hack to get rid of moss on patio and driveway - Leicestershire Live - February 7th, 2024 [February 7th, 2024]
- 'Simplest' method to prevent patio weeds from growing stops them 'settling between slabs' - Express - February 7th, 2024 [February 7th, 2024]
- NOTL Coun. Gary Burroughs proposes to limit patios - Niagara This Week - February 7th, 2024 [February 7th, 2024]
- 5 Ways to Revive a Patio After Winter Small Tricks Landscape Designers Rely On - LivingEtc - February 7th, 2024 [February 7th, 2024]
- Best way to easily remove moss from patio or driveways in 20 minutes with home staple - Express - February 7th, 2024 [February 7th, 2024]
- 8 Best Garden Stools of 2024 - The Jerusalem Post - February 7th, 2024 [February 7th, 2024]
- 17 Covered and Heated Patios Perfect for Cold, Rainy Weather in Seattle - EverOut - January 22nd, 2024 [January 22nd, 2024]
- 7 dog-friendly heated patios in Huntsville to check out - Hville Blast - January 22nd, 2024 [January 22nd, 2024]
- Ignoring This Patio Problem Could Knock Off 20% Of Your Home's Value - House Digest - January 22nd, 2024 [January 22nd, 2024]
- 8 Best Patio Loveseats Review - The Jerusalem Post - January 22nd, 2024 [January 22nd, 2024]
- Springfield restaurants offer outdoor dining during winter with heated patios - Standard Online - January 22nd, 2024 [January 22nd, 2024]
- Paving expert shares 27p solution to kill weeds and moss and prevent them growing back - Express - January 22nd, 2024 [January 22nd, 2024]
- Patios on Banff Avenue to resume this year despite Parks Canada's opposition - Calgary Herald - January 22nd, 2024 [January 22nd, 2024]
- Were not in this together: Outdoor patios shuttered, warned over public health restrictions - Toronto Star - January 25th, 2022 [January 25th, 2022]
- After nearly 2 years of expanded outdoor patios, Fort Collins mulls making them permanent - Coloradoan - January 25th, 2022 [January 25th, 2022]
- 15 Heated patios for those cooler days in Tucson - Tucson Foodie - January 25th, 2022 [January 25th, 2022]
- Patios and drive-in movies carry Gananoque through another pandemic winter - CBC.ca - January 25th, 2022 [January 25th, 2022]
- This three-story home in Oak Cliff has a rooftop patio - The Dallas Morning News - January 25th, 2022 [January 25th, 2022]
- These Gorgeous Fire Pit Tables Will Transform Your Outdoor Space Into A Winter Oasis | The Weather Channel - Articles from The Weather Channel |... - January 25th, 2022 [January 25th, 2022]
- Bar Ivy Will Breeze Into Clarendon With a 125-Seat Patio Shaded by Crepe Myrtles - Eater DC - January 25th, 2022 [January 25th, 2022]
- Platinum Patio and Pavers Opens New Location in Barrington IL and Palatine IL - GlobeNewswire - January 25th, 2022 [January 25th, 2022]
- Toronto's New Winter Patio Is Like A Trip To The Alps & You Can Sip Mulled Wine By A Fire - Narcity Canada - January 25th, 2022 [January 25th, 2022]
- This $550K Home Near Ottawa Has A Patio On Every Level & Walls Full Of Windows - Narcity Canada - January 25th, 2022 [January 25th, 2022]
- Wellington Drive live on the patio at beergarden KEZI Calendar - KEZI TV - January 25th, 2022 [January 25th, 2022]
- The New Opalhouse x Jungalow Collection at Target Is Here to Refresh Your Home For 2022 - POPSUGAR - January 25th, 2022 [January 25th, 2022]
- Wisdom and incredible strength: the exhibition showing the lives built by Holocaust survivors - The Guardian - January 25th, 2022 [January 25th, 2022]
- Lampposts Market Size, Forecast, and Top Firms Paradise Garden Lighting, Patio Living Concepts, New England Arbors, Gama Sonic, iGuzzini The Oxford... - January 25th, 2022 [January 25th, 2022]
- Chicago's best restaurants with heated patios - Eater Chicago - January 25th, 2022 [January 25th, 2022]
- WATCH: Man fights off bear to save dachshunds - BRProud.com - January 25th, 2022 [January 25th, 2022]
- Stay Warm At These Heated Nashville Restaurant Patios - StyleBlueprint - February 20th, 2021 [February 20th, 2021]
- Keeping Toronto closed now may prevent another lockdown right before patios open, Tory says - CP24 Toronto's Breaking News - February 20th, 2021 [February 20th, 2021]
- Extending Toronto's lockdown could prevent another one before patios reopen: Tory | Dished - Daily Hive - February 20th, 2021 [February 20th, 2021]
- Popular patio pop-ups expanding this summer - Winnipeg Free Press - February 20th, 2021 [February 20th, 2021]
- City of Vancouver to open summer patio applications from food and beverage establishments on March 1 - Straight.com - February 20th, 2021 [February 20th, 2021]
- The Lansing poll winner of Michigans Best Outdoor Dining is a deck over the Looking Glass River - MLive.com - February 20th, 2021 [February 20th, 2021]
- Where to Day Drink in Houston 18 Restaurants and Bars That Can Make Any Afternoon a Celebration - PaperCity Magazine - February 20th, 2021 [February 20th, 2021]
- New Rise Woodfire restaurant stokes the ovens at San Mateo train station - East Bay Times - February 20th, 2021 [February 20th, 2021]
- Global Outdoor Patio Umbrella Market Share, Business Opportunities, Drivers, Challenges and Forecast to 2027 | Reportspedia The Bisouv Network - The... - February 20th, 2021 [February 20th, 2021]
- Comprehensive Report on Patio Awnings Market 2021 | Trends, Growth Demand, Opportunities & Forecast To 2027 |Erhardt, AandA International, Eide... - February 20th, 2021 [February 20th, 2021]
- College Hill's Brink Brewing Co. to Celebrate Fourth Anniversary with Heated Patio Party - Cincinnati CityBeat - February 17th, 2021 [February 17th, 2021]
- See a hidden University Park home lauded in the 1940s for its spacious front-yard patio - The Dallas Morning News - February 17th, 2021 [February 17th, 2021]
- Check Out This New Addition at Downtown Grand Junction Restaurant - kool1079.com - February 17th, 2021 [February 17th, 2021]
- Create Your New Outdoor Living Space with Precision Patio Covers - ThurstonTalk - February 17th, 2021 [February 17th, 2021]
- Uptick in Backyard Hangouts? Pick up This Discounted Patio Heater - gearpatrol.com - February 17th, 2021 [February 17th, 2021]
- Where to Dine Outside in Vancouver - Eater Portland - February 17th, 2021 [February 17th, 2021]
- Impact Of Covid 19 On Online Outdoor Patio Umbrella Industry 2020 Market Challenges, Business Overview And Forecast Research Study 2026 NeighborWebSJ... - February 17th, 2021 [February 17th, 2021]
- Glory Days Grill Fights the COVID-19 Battle on Multiple Fronts - FSR magazine - February 17th, 2021 [February 17th, 2021]
- Outdoor Living Products Market Competitive Outlook and Economic Forecasting | Ace Hardware, Century Furniture LLC., Forever Patio., DEDON INC KSU |... - February 17th, 2021 [February 17th, 2021]
- Outdoor Patio Heaters Market 2020 |Global Industry Analysis By Trends, Size, Share, Company Overview, Growth And Forecast By 2027| Latest Research... - February 17th, 2021 [February 17th, 2021]
- Winter storm deals Portland area restaurants yet another blow - OregonLive - February 17th, 2021 [February 17th, 2021]
- Patio Heaters and Barbecue Accessories Market Size by Top Key Players, SWOT Analysis, Business Overview, Forecast 2027 The Bisouv Network - The... - February 17th, 2021 [February 17th, 2021]
- The Best To-Go Dishes (and Drinks!) at the Newest Restaurants in Texas - Texas Monthly - February 17th, 2021 [February 17th, 2021]
- The Washington Post gives shout out to Birmingham's The Essential + Bandit Patisserie - Bham Now - February 17th, 2021 [February 17th, 2021]
- Dress up a garden path or patio with gravel or paving stones: Should you splurge on bluestone? - OregonLive - February 9th, 2021 [February 9th, 2021]
- Outdoor Patio Pick of the Week: The Penmar Venice - L.A. Weekly - February 9th, 2021 [February 9th, 2021]
- Patio dining to roll out on Toronto sidewalks, streets in May if public health protocols allow - CTV Toronto - February 9th, 2021 [February 9th, 2021]
- What $1 Million Buys You in California - The New York Times - February 9th, 2021 [February 9th, 2021]
- The Best Outdoor Heater to Warm Up the Patio - BobVila.com - February 9th, 2021 [February 9th, 2021]
- Kitchener to waive patio fees, continue offering free downtown parking - CTV Toronto - February 9th, 2021 [February 9th, 2021]
- Mum and daughter, 9, forced to dig own graves before partner buried them under patio - Mirror.co.uk - February 9th, 2021 [February 9th, 2021]
- Mum & daughter, 9, forced to dig their own graves before being buried under patio by partner - The Sun - February 9th, 2021 [February 9th, 2021]
- Where to Dine Out for Valentines Day 2020 in Portland - Eater Portland - February 9th, 2021 [February 9th, 2021]
- Safety Net Market Consumption Analysis, Business Overview and Upcoming Trends|Abba Patio, Kidkusion, JFN, Asoner, Changsha Wuxing, etc KSU | The... - February 9th, 2021 [February 9th, 2021]
- Prep your patio for spring with 48-feet of string lighting, now $24 (Save 43%) - 9to5Toys - February 9th, 2021 [February 9th, 2021]
- The porcelain floors and marbled patio of Midleton's 415k Redwood - Irish Examiner - February 9th, 2021 [February 9th, 2021]
- The Inside Outside Guys: That sinking feeling concrete slabs, porches and patios - The Detroit News - January 15th, 2021 [January 15th, 2021]
- Playoffs on the Patios a hit on Chippewa during Bills playoff win - WGRZ.com - January 15th, 2021 [January 15th, 2021]
- Indoor dining is off the table until Feb. 1, but patios are flourishing, even in a Michigan winter - WSYM-TV - January 15th, 2021 [January 15th, 2021]
- Map: Here are the bars and restaurants with heated patio seating in SLC - KSL.com - January 15th, 2021 [January 15th, 2021]
- Playoffs on the Patio should continue for next Bills Playoff Game - WIVB.com - News 4 - January 15th, 2021 [January 15th, 2021]
- Pandemic pricing? Cost of a patio heater quadrupled on Amazon - CBS News - January 15th, 2021 [January 15th, 2021]
- Patio lighting ideas: 16 ways to illuminate your plot with pendants, fairy lights, stakes and more - Yahoo Lifestyle UK - January 15th, 2021 [January 15th, 2021]
- Playoffs on the Patios sells out in 8 Hours - Buffalo Rising - January 15th, 2021 [January 15th, 2021]