The city’s public health commissioner hopes the restaurants can be reopened this weekend.
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Chicago tables remain empty, but some form of dining inside could be just days away. Christos Intzempapzakis, general manager of all three Meli Cafe locations, says it would be a lifeline.
“It would be a very welcome change,” Intzempapzakis said. “It would be a little better than what we have so far.”
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“We must remain diligent, but I am optimistic that we will see meals inside restaurants relatively quickly,” said Mayor Lori Lightfoot.
As restaurants get creative during the cold and snow to create outdoor seating, some have said the reopening of the partial indoor table is long overdue for struggling units.
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“Even if it opened yesterday, it’s still too late,” Intzempapzakis said. “Some people just sit there.”
Sam Sanchez, owner of Moe’s Cantina and Old Crow Smokehouse, believes the news is positive and believes all restaurants should be able to open for dining indoors, with adequate social distance immediately.
“We hope there are more than 25 people in the restaurant,” Sanchez said. “We hope that the weather will not end at 10 o’clock at night.”
Dr. Allison Arwady, the city’s health commissioner, said the number of COVID-19 cases has been steadily declining since Jan. 8. She said she is very optimistic that some indoor dining could return any day now.
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