McHenry Times

A growing number of restaurants throughout Illinois have opted to defy Gov. J.B. Pritzker’s orders mandating they shutter indoor dining service.

In Crystal Lake, five restaurants have said they will stay open despite Pritzker’s orders. 

– Andy’s Restaurant - 468 W Virginia St

– Around The Clock - 5011 Northwest Hwy

– Fire Bar & Grill - 435 Angela Ln

– Pablo’s Family Fiesta - 330 Rt. 31

– The Cottage - 6 E Crystal Lake Ave

Pritzker has ordered restrictions that would result in a wide swath of small business closures throughout the state.  

Many restaurants have said they will defy the governor’s orders rather than risk losing their livelihoods. 

“It is my living. It is how I pay all of the people who work for me,” Elgin Public House owner Greg Shannon, who has already lost one restaurant during the pandemic, said in defense of remaining open. “We are going to stay open and we are going to take care of business. The mandates are unconstitutional.”

Libertyville Mayor Terry Weppler has said he will not enforce the orders. 

Orland Park Mayor Keith Pekau refuted Pritzker’s findings that prompted the closures. 

Across Illinois at least 3,800 small businesses have already permanently closed due to business activity being limited by Pritzker’s executive orders.  

Illinois is in the top five states for permanent business closures due to Covid regulations. 

Illinois Policy estimates the latest closure order “threatens to put anywhere from 5,000 to 21,700 food service businesses out of business permanently.” 

The Illinois Restaurant Association is considering whether to file a lawsuit against Pritzker on behalf of 25,000 restaurants throughout the state to stop what many are calling unconstitutional breaches of executive power. 

Attorneys advising restaurants have already successfully fended off closure orders with at least one judge ruling Pritzker’s executive orders cannot be enforced. 

If your restaurant should be on the list above or if you’d like to share your business’s pandemic story, please contact us at staffreports@lgis.co.