South Cook News

The Oak Lawn Village Board is investigating ways to help bars and restaurants open quickly.

Patch.com reported that the Oak Lawn Village Board was in agreement about getting the village’s eateries and bars open as soon as certain regions of the state begin Phase 3 of their reopening. 

Establishments were legally allowed to reopen on May 29 and the permits that the Village Board will issue allow for outdoor seating to be added and even will grant bars and restaurants local liquor licenses to serve alcoholic beverages outside in a faster timeline than usual. These permits will be in effect until the coronavirus stops impacting normal daily life. 

Mayor Sandra Bury said the board wants to help in whatever way it can to get these businesses back up and running. 

“It's up to the bars and restaurants to submit a proposal,” Bury told Patch.com. “Every business is unique."

The board is also planning to hold a meeting in order to approve an ordinance for the reopen of the entire village, as many businesses — barber shops, tattoo parlors and hair salons — have been closed since March 15, having been deemed non-essential. 

Bury said that bars and restaurants will need to submit drawings and plans about where they want to put outdoor seating, as well as the electrical plans that they have for the areas. 

"Restaurants and bars shouldn't look to the Village Board to decide what they should do, but to work it out for themselves," Bury said. "We'll try to facilitate permits and requests as quickly as possible."

Some businesses may need to use tents to facilitate outdoor seating and the Illinois Department of Commerce outlines requirements for air circulation. 

While the Village Board is willing to help in whatever ways they can, much of the reopening will come down to landlords and neighbors of businesses. 

“I don’t expect problems unless it’s an obvious safety concern,” Bury said.