Glencoe To Allow Igloos, Greenhouses For Outdoor Dining In Winter
GLENCOE, IL —When temperatures drop this winter, diners at Glencoe restaurants may have the chance to enjoy their meals in igloos, greenhouses, or covered personal bubbles. The Village Board Thursday authorized staff to work with restaurants in the village to develop licensing agreements to allow for expanded outdoor dining options for the fall and winter seasons.
Interested restaurants may request the use of village right-of-way and on-street parking spaces to allow for temporary outdoor dining structures after the village's outdoor seating area season ends on Nov. 30, according to a statement from village staff.
“As with the Village’s expanded outdoor seating plans implemented this summer, these winter outdoor dining options underscore the strong relationship between the Village and the downtown business community,” Village Manager Phil Kiraly said. “Now more than ever, Glencoe restaurants need our continued support during these challenging times, and I am continually impressed by our businesses’ resounding ability to develop unique ideas that will benefit not only our restaurants but all facets of our downtown business community.”
After the expiration of Gov. J.B. Pritzker's stay-at-home order aimed at slowing the spread of the coronavirus, the village launched an auxiliary outdoor seating area program to help restaurants unable to offer indoor service during the summer. Village staff have now begun working with other restaurants interested in drawing up licensing agreements for outdoor seating that would extend into the winter.
According to village officials, the configuration of new temporary outdoor seating structures will still allow for pedestrian access to sidewalks, most downtown parking spots and snow and ice removal operations. Concrete or plastic reflective barriers will be installed to separate dining areas from traffic.
Trustees already approved an agreement with Hometown Coffee & Juice for its winter outdoor dining plan. It will include greenhouses for individual tables and an expanded awning for sidewalk seating.
Under bar and restaurant guidelines from the Illinois Department of Commerce and Economic Opportunity, any tables within 8 feet of a detached wall or floor-to-ceiling window qualify as "outdoor." State regulators have not yet announced any new dining restrictions or COVID-19 mitigation requirements specific to the wall and winter seasons.
This article originally appeared on the Winnetka-Glencoe Patch
