ILLINOIS — Today's the day: With the state hitting all the necessary benchmarks to move into phase 3 of the coronavirus reopening plan, Friday is the day when bars and restaurants can reopen to diners for outdoor seating only, and with social distancing and sanitation measures in place. Many bars and restaurants have been shut down since Gov. J.B. Pritzker banned dine-in customer service March 16.
With the extended stay-at-home order expiring Friday, the Restore Illinois plan allows for some businesses previously deemed nonessential to reopen, including salons, barbershops and health clubs — all with capacity limits and new guidelines such as allowing only outdoor group fitness classes.
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With most of the state shut down since mid-March — more than two months — many are rejoicing at the return to a new normal and simple pleasures such as dining out. And in the wake of several Reopen Illinois protests, some believe the reopening is coming too late.
Business owners speak out
So how do Illinois business owners feel? On Thursday, Patch sent a survey to the more than 1,600 business owners who filled out our business directory surveys in late March and early April.
Of those who responded, more than 85 percent agreed with Pritzker's decision to allow many businesses to reopen as phase 3 began.
In fact, more than 40 percent of business owners said they felt the phase 3 reopening was coming "too late," compared with just 13.6 percent who said it's happening too early. Thirty percent said they feel it's the right time to reopen, and business owners seemed almost evenly split in their opinion on Pritzker's performance during the pandemic. More than 42 percent said they are dissatisfied or very dissatisfied with the governor's performance, while more than 45 percent are satisfied or very satisfied.
An overwhelming majority — more than 87 percent — said they plan to reopen their business as soon as possible, while just 7.1 percent said they won't.
Despite business owners' overwhelming approval of the phase 3 reopening, some did express anxiety as Illinois residents continue to test positive for the coronavirus even though the positivity rate is dropping.
"I think (reopening) should happen very cautiously," one business owner wrote.
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"I would hold off on opening, but my clients are getting restless," another said. "Other businesses have not obeyed the state's mandate, and people were asking me to violate it as well. I wouldn't, but I also have to open now by the same reasoning."
Another business owner seemed fairly pessimistic about whether customers will practice social distancing, writing, "I think the public is mostly nuts & I won't be surprised at another peak in the virus."
But others were more optimistic.
"As long as people practice safe distancing, wear masks, wash hands and keep groups to a minimum — and realize that this isn't over yet, we should be good," one business owner wrote.
Another said businesses "never should have been closed in the first place."
Another felt even more strongly, telling Patch, "fear is a prison."
Some said they were initially happy with Pritzker's response to coronavirus but are beginning to lose faith in the decisions he's making.
"I believe Pritzker has done a great job and stood up to the federal government. However, it really seems like he's caving now," a business owner told Patch. "The coronavirus is still spreading at an alarming rate. It's not going down, and there will most likely be a massive resurgence of cases of COVID-19 as businesses reopen. I will not reopen until I see how the other businesses reopening affects the rate of transmission. They can be the guinea pigs. I'm losing money like crazy, as I am doing only 30% of normal business. However, I'd rather be cautious for my employees, customers, myself, and anyone any of us may come into contact with."
Others said they are losing faith in Pritzker, but for a different reason.
One business owner said they started questioning Pritzker's decisions in early April, saying, "I'm very disappointed with how slow the state is opening up. Having us set everyone up outside in tents is even more of a joke."
Another business owner said, "We were initially somewhat satisfied with the government response, but that has changed as they maintained the broad closures with little consideration given to the impact on businesses. In our opinion, lower-risk businesses should have had restrictions eased about a month ago."
Still others were not happy with which businesses were deemed essential early on.
"I think it was very unfair that businesses like Walmart, Home Depot, Lowes, etc. were able to stay open but small businesses had to close," one business owner wrote.
Another said, "Who is to say what an essential business is — tell that to the families still out of work. Please explain to me how liquor stores, abortion clinics and marijuana are essential!"
Some business owners talked about the precautions they are taking and what they will ask of their customers as they reopen:
- "Our business will reopen but will require clients to wear face masks and we will be sanitizing regularly."
- "We are opening with 4 days a week, not 7 as in the past. We will be following the governor's guidelines and practicing many safety precautions of our own."
- "We are following the Governor's and Skokie's guidelines for Phase 3 by limiting classes inside the studio to 1:1 and classes outside for up to 10 people set up 10 feet apart."
Restaurant owners who don't have a patio said they believe the new regulations are unfair. "Those of us with no patios should be allowed some customers inside as well with distancing as well," one wrote.
Customers feel reopening anxiety
While restaurants and bars have been hard at work prepping to reopen — building new picnic tables, reconfiguring seating to allow for social distancing and even using their parking lots to host outdoor seating — some customers are wary.
Of more than 1,400 residents who responded to a Patch survey, the overwhelming majority — more than 76 percent — said they do not plan to dine out this weekend, even as bars and restaurants open their patios.
Some residents seem to feel they'll be more comfortable in the coming weeks, with a near 50-50 split on whether they plan to visit a restaurant or bar in June.
More than 56 percent said they do not feel bars and restaurants are safe at this point, and more than 65 percent said they feel anxious about dining out.
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IL Reopening: Businesses Ready, Many Customers Anxious - Patch.com
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