THE RESTAURANT CRISIS | Emilio's Tapas Shares Heartfelt Letter with Supporters Amid COVID-19

RESTAURANTS CONTINUE TO FACE HARDSHIP DUE TO STRICT GUIDELINES

As Gov J.B. Pritzker announced the closure of indoor dining facilities, along with limited capacity for other businesses, one well-loved area restaurant shared a heartfelt letter to their customers and supporters in social media on Tuesday.

The restaurant, Emilio's Tapas in Hillside, opened in 1988 by Emilio Gervilla, and offers Spanish cuisine made up on small plates of hot and cold tapas inspired by Mediterranean and New World cultures. Through the years, it has grown in popularity throughout Chicago's western suburbs and is loved my many. On Tuesday. the restaurant shared this post, assuring a safe dining experience for all:

"After much heartfelt thought and discussion, we have decided to change our minds and stay open. We did not make this decision lightly or without thinking of all the consequences. We will remain open for any customers who feel comfortable dining in house or on our patio. If you’re not comfortable eating out, we understand… stay home. We can provide take-out and delivery to accommodate you.

Illinois restaurants have unjustly been put through the wringer and we just cannot continue to be pushed to the brink with no light on the horizon. Our employees cannot take on anymore hardship due to loss of income.

We are here for you in whatever capacity you are comfortable with; dine in, patio, carry-out or delivery via GrubHub or DoorDash. Be assured that we have taken every precaution necessary to make your dining experience safe and enjoyable.

There’s nothing like home for the holidays! Let us make your holidays less stressful by supplying catering or platters to go!"

A stay-at-home recommendation, not order, was issued for the next 3 weeks in a press briefing on Tuesday. In that briefing, Gov J.B. Pritzker stated that Illinois residents should work from home whenever possible and participate only in “essential” activities over the next three weeks — including the Thanksgiving holiday period — as coronavirus trends continue in the wrong direction.

The entire state is currently under an indoor dining ban at bars and restaurants and capacity limits on social gatherings. Regions 1, 5, 7 and 8 are operating with additional mitigations, including stricter limits on gatherings and party sizes for outdoor dining.

According to the Illinois Public Health Department as of November 18, 2020, the statistics are as follows:

Total Tests Performed

9,255,658

Confirmed Cases

597,849

Recovery Rate

97%

Deaths

10,875

Probable Deaths

442

The Illinois Restaurant Association continues to engage with local, state, and federal officials to help address concerns about COVID-19. They urge restaurants to visit their site to complete a survey about how this has effected your business. The site states that this insight will help guide the IRA's advocacy efforts to provide regulatory relief and overall support for Illinois' hospitality industry.

ALL COVID-19

ALL DINING + CABARET

ALL BUSINESS