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The state of Illinois is pretty clear that it does not want people meeting in restaurants, bars and clubs while the COVID-19 pandemic is raging, which it says will be at least until April 30, but it does not want to spoil everyone’s fun completely.
According to the governor’s executive order, “Such businesses are permitted and encouraged to serve food and beverages so that they may be consumed off-premises…through such means as in house delivery, third-party delivery, drive-through, and curbside pickup.”
While the new regulations, enacted on top of old ones, have left some bars scrambling for clear direction, many have expanded their operations to include delivery of unopened containers of alcohol (customers will have to mix their own drinks).
Bill Jacobs, owner of the brewpub Piece Brewery & Pizzeria in Wicker Park, told Eater Chicago that he is using his own staff for delivery, in order to both save on third-party fees and ensure that IDs of customers are done correctly. While brewpubs like Piece have always been able to deliver growlers of their wares, for restaurants such as Roots, where liquor is traditionally 20% to 30% of sales, pick-up and delivery are what keep them going, and allow him to move inventory he already owns.
“I need as much cash in my bank and not on the shelves,” he told Eater Chicago. “And that’s what delivery allows me to do.”
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