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* Hmm…
New WaPo poll is telling: Americans are really hesitant to go back to restaurants.
% of Americans who would feel comfortable going to…
Grocery store 56%
Retail clothing store 33%
Eating out in a restaurant 22%https://t.co/V4VmDMBEOg— Heather Long (@byHeatherLong) May 5, 2020
Please keep your discussion polite and Illinois-centric. Thanks.
posted by Rich Miller
Wednesday, May 6, 20 @ 8:57 am
Sorry, comments are closed at this time.
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I have underlying conditions. My doctor told me no plane travel, no large groups, no restaurants until there’s a vaccine.
Comment by ChicagoVinny Wednesday, May 6, 20 @ 9:01 am
I really miss just going to a local bar and having a beer or two. That said, there’s no way I would want to do that now or even two weeks from now.
We all want to get back to normal, even the Democrats (believe it or not, Republicans), but until it’s safe to do so, I don’t plan on going to any open bars for a beer.
Comment by Steve Rogers Wednesday, May 6, 20 @ 9:03 am
Can’t think of a restaurant, locally owned or chain, that I’ve eaten at where there wasn’t at least three or four people within ten feet of me the whole time.
I feel for those employees and owners. However, dining out and movie going is probably the riskiest thing you will do for quite a while.
Comment by efudd Wednesday, May 6, 20 @ 9:04 am
Ordered a pizza for delivery Saturday. First meal not prepared at home in six weeks. Enjoyed.
Yesterday received an email from a restaurant I frequent stating they are closing for 14 days due to a worker testing positive.
Don’t know when I will order out again.
Comment by a drop in Wednesday, May 6, 20 @ 9:06 am
Today is National Nurses Day.
If you get a chance and know nurses in your life, even an acquaintance, thank them today, if you could.
Thinking of all the hospitals and clinics here in Illinois, all the newly minted nurses too put on the front lines during these times.
Chicagoland and Illinois is fortunate to have some of the best medical facilities in the world, staffed with the finest nurses in the world too.
Nurses are heroes, I thank them today, and thank them for all they do, in normal times and during crisis like we face today.
Comment by Oswego Willy Wednesday, May 6, 20 @ 9:06 am
It’s not that I’m not comfortable going to a restaurant, it’s more that I’ve learned that I can cook myself and am greatly enjoying it.
Even after this is over, I’m going to be eating out less because I’ve discovered the joys of cooking more for myself.
Comment by TheInvisibleMan Wednesday, May 6, 20 @ 9:15 am
While I would like to open my small business, I understand the risks involved. I want my shop safe for all who enter, and for my wife and I. If it takes a while longer, we will wait. Safety of everyone, should be the main focus. Thank you to all the essential workers, for all they are doing to help get us through this trying time. E special thanks to all the Nurses. You are an example of what is right in America.
Comment by Retired Educator Wednesday, May 6, 20 @ 9:17 am
Restaurants are going to be tough. Even if you’ve got room to space the tables, you’re going to have servers moving through the room.
Comment by Snapple Lady Wednesday, May 6, 20 @ 9:17 am
It is very reassuring to see that most people are rational and considerate. Who doesn’t want to return back to normal? Many feel it must be done as safely as possible.
Giving people goals, like Pritzker did with his reopening plan, gives people something to strive for and hope. But blindly rushing out and being so inconsiderate of others and oneself, that’s not what most want.
Comment by Grandson of Man Wednesday, May 6, 20 @ 9:18 am
A lot of people dont seem to understand that you can open up as fast as you want, but what’s really making businesses suffer is the fact that we still have suppressed the virus
Comment by Nick Wednesday, May 6, 20 @ 9:19 am
I used to spend more time in restaurants than about anywhere. If / when they reopen, I’ll probably still stick to curbside pickup for a long time from the few places I’m occasionally using now; local places where I know either the owner or at least one of the cooks.
Comment by RNUG Wednesday, May 6, 20 @ 9:22 am
I love eating out, in part because I don’t love to cook.
That said, I’m not going back to restaurants for quite some time, whether they open for dine-in or not.
Comment by thunderspirit Wednesday, May 6, 20 @ 9:25 am
I thought about the drive-in this weekend, but decided not to go. We generally sit in lawn chairs and that is not allowed under the rules right now.
Comment by RNUG Wednesday, May 6, 20 @ 9:25 am
I miss the little mom-and-pop ethnic restaurants, but I lost 10 pounds right off the bat when I couldn’t stuff myself at lunch-hour buffets anymore.
Comment by olddog Wednesday, May 6, 20 @ 9:27 am
I like dining out. I don’t think I am alone in that. I do not like dining out during a pandemic, and polling suggests I am not alone in that either.
I would feel more secure with there being wide spread testing, tracking, and antibody testing so at the very least accurate or reliable numbers regarding community spread would be available.
I would also hesitate to dine anywhere that staff weren’t wearing masks right now. I place a lot of trust in my immune system everyday, but COVID-19 gives me a lot of good reasons to avoid chances — including that I could unknowingly spread the infection.
Low wage workers without paid sick leave already have to report to work sick, and having them report to work in the next several months could be a death sentence to a patron or someone the patron interacts with.
I know it’s a tough time for restaurantuers, but I don’t think some of our politicians really get that it’s demand that drives the market. I went from eating out 4 or 5 times a week to zero. It’s going to remain zero for a while. I even pack lunches and dinners if I have to go some place to avoid that extra interaction.
I’m at least academically curious to see what happens if a bar in West Frankfort opens up to regular business - who will the clientele be? What will the consequences be?
Comment by Candy Dogood Wednesday, May 6, 20 @ 9:29 am
This is the point that is lost on the “reopen economy” protesters. These businesses and many others operate on very thin margins. They simply can’t make the economics work if only 25-33% of their customers are willing to go to their establishments. The economic recovery will only occur after we implement a plan to minimize the impact of the virus. You can’t order people to shop, eat out, or engage in any number of activities if they don’t feel safe doing so.
Comment by Pundent Wednesday, May 6, 20 @ 9:30 am
That’s the balance.
Those clamoring to be open, folks, meaning “me”, that won’t be going to places open immediately because they feel the need to be open.
Curbside? All about it. Online? Logged in, doing it. Delivery? Been there, done that.
Am I keeping track, for me, of those in masks, maybe gloves, those ensuring “no contact” means “no contact”… yep.
Also looking at employers endangering (for a lack of better verbiage) employees by the mere act of opening up. Those non-essential businesses that expect “foot traffic” and bring in employees, keeping an eye on that, and while those employees will be getting paid, and that’s as important as anything when others are scrambling, when Illinois allows these openings, what will be the “illness” cost?
I’ll keep getting meals from non-chain restaurants, be engaged in trying to save jobs and businesses, but this idea I’ll be “shopping” at some of my truly favorite small businesses outside curbside or online, or eat at my favorite restaurant as dine-in, can’t see it.
Hopefully here in Illinois we can do what’s right and what’s needed in a balanced way to be smart to this crisis.
Comment by Oswego Willy Wednesday, May 6, 20 @ 9:34 am
Restuarants and Craft breweries/eateries are pretty much one of our favorite attractions around town and when vacationing. Pick up orders are the only thing we’ll be doing until there is a vaccine. Sad truth.
Comment by Just A Dude Wednesday, May 6, 20 @ 9:37 am
From the stories that have looked at online reservation data, people were increasingly uncomfortable with restaurants in the weeks before the shutdowns- bars and restaurants will be the among the things people return to. No one wants to sit in an enclosed place for an hour or more with a bunch of others until we feel safe. Something I think most responsible clergy also recognize.
Comment by In 630 Wednesday, May 6, 20 @ 9:42 am
I won’t be dining in until this virus is far away in the rear view mirror. I do curbside, drive through and delivery. We have sampled pizzas from several Springfield establishments. I did drive through last night for taco salads. The employee at the window did have a mask on but it was under her chin.
Comment by Captain Who Wednesday, May 6, 20 @ 9:46 am
” but I lost 10 pounds right off the bat”
Don’t worry, i found it.
Comment by Bruce (no not him) Wednesday, May 6, 20 @ 9:52 am
Woke up to Christian Mitchell threatening to burn down people’s houses. Nice reminder of what a power trip looks like.
Comment by Return to Sender Wednesday, May 6, 20 @ 9:56 am
This idea of trying to stop “liability” for businesses opening right now.
Nope.
If you’re telling me it’s fine to be open, then this “idea” for legal protection from being open during a pandemic so some business can sell something and put others in danger.
Sorry. No. Nope.
You wanna be open during a pandemic, another cost besides you own conscience, you should face legal action for your choices.
I’m not coming at this as “trial lawyer” support, I’m coming at this with medical personnel who *may* need to treat a spike in illnesses “because businesses”
Illinois is trying to be thoughtful, businesses need to be thoughtful too, and if they’re in this together with us, this legal recourse is more than just “suing to sue”, it’s a pause to think about everyone that is effected when more infections occur, like medical personnel too.
Comment by Oswego Willy Wednesday, May 6, 20 @ 9:56 am
I am seeing that there are also a not insubstantial number of people who want things reopened, but would refuse a vaccine if one were available (or at least want to wait a while to see if it is safe for others). I’d like to see a poll on that.
Comment by Six Degrees of Separation Wednesday, May 6, 20 @ 9:58 am
=From the stories that have looked at online reservation data, people were increasingly uncomfortable with restaurants in the weeks before the shutdowns- bars and restaurants will be the among the things people return to.=
Purely anecdotal but prior to the more widespread shutdowns I went to an outdoor mall and restaurant. There was virtually no one in at either. And this was before the stay at home order was issued. At that time there was still a sense that things might not be that bad. Since then we’ve learned a lot.
There will be some that won’t go out until a vaccine is available. That day may or may not come and it certainly won’t happen in the short term. But I can certainly understand why that could be a gating issue for some.
If you want to get these figures above the 25-30% reflected in the poll you’re going to have to see significant progress on the three Ts. Even with that there will be no sense of “normal” for a long time. We begin to get there once we know who has or had the virus. There are no shortcuts.
Comment by Pundent Wednesday, May 6, 20 @ 10:00 am
My family orders out 1-2 times a week. The desire to help these restaurants survive outweighs the concern about food prepared outside of our home. We cook the remaining nights. The only thing that has changed for us is that we are no longer going out for dinner. I’ve put on about 5 pounds since this thing started. I’m hoping that better weather will bring more opportunity to go outside and exercise.
Comment by 32nd warder Wednesday, May 6, 20 @ 10:02 am
== These businesses and many others operate on very thin margins. They simply can’t make the economics work if only 25-33% of their customers are willing to go to their establishments. ==
The margins are even thinner than you might think. A lot of bars and resturants were being kept afloat by the gambling revenue. Those 5 or do machines are usually tightly crammed in a corner; no 6 foot social distancing there.
A lot of restaurants and bars that reopen will just be on life support, dying less slowly than while they were closed. Same for the ones that have stayed open doing curbside and drive-thru.
At least my favorite pizza joint should survive; talked to the owner again Monday and they have been doing a really drive-thru business.
Comment by RNUG Wednesday, May 6, 20 @ 10:10 am
So far as take-out food, according to some scientists and doctors, the food itself is unlikely to be spreading coronavirus. A small fast-food place I frequent had masks, gloves, shields by the register, and closed off their sitting area. Biggest risk is still number of customers in small space, although all customers had properly-worn masks on to come in. Another sit-down restaurant is doing carry-outs only. But this means no waitresses or tips. This isn’t easy for many people, but keep calm and carry on to do your part. I’m not exactly touchy-feely, but my heart feels for so many people and situations.
Comment by revvedup Wednesday, May 6, 20 @ 10:12 am
A little good news from the University of Illinois…..
https://finance.yahoo.com/news/university-of-illinois-insurance-bet-224016209.html
Comment by Downstate Wednesday, May 6, 20 @ 10:39 am
COVID-19 outbreak at another pork packing plant, this time at JBS (Cargill) in Beardstown:
https://www.sj-r.com/news/20200505/precautions-in-place-after-covid-19-outbreak-at-jbs-pork-plant
Comment by Chatham Resident Wednesday, May 6, 20 @ 1:03 pm
In socially-distanced conversation with a friend, we both said we don’t want to risk going to restaurants and bars, likely for quite a while after they open. There are just too many uncontrollable variables. Then we thought about what we both *have* been willing to risk doing in the past. The list included jumping out of perfectly good airplanes, rock climbing and mountaineering, serious whitewatering, and meeting future in-laws for the first time. When people are willing to risk doing those, but not going into a restaurant or bar, that tells you how scary this virus is.
Comment by Flapdoodle Wednesday, May 6, 20 @ 1:29 pm
Chatham Resident,
There’s a pork plant in Rantoul. At least 47 Covid-19 cases have been associated with it, and the health department hasn’t finished testing all the workers, or doing contact tracing for the ones who are sick.
Almost 20% of all the Covid-19 cases in Champaign County.
Comment by Lynn S. Wednesday, May 6, 20 @ 1:48 pm
== But this means no waitresses or tips. ==
There is nothing stopping you from tipping the take-out, curb-side, and drive-thru people. I’ve been doing it consistently, and mostly the same level as I would in the restaurant.
And I obviously can’t speak for all the restaurant owners, but the couple of mom and pop operators I do know have been rotating their regular wait staff to the kitchen and take-out positions so they can still have some income.
Comment by RNUG Wednesday, May 6, 20 @ 3:58 pm