City Council Approves Extending Downtown Rooftop, Outdoor Patio Hours to Midnight
By Chuck Sudo in News on Jul 6, 2011 7:45PM
Among the business conducted at today's City Council meeting was an agreement to push back the closing time for outdoor patios and rooftop decks downtown to midnight on weeknights. 42nd Ward Ald. Brendan Reilly, who proposed the change at the behest of the Illinois Restaurant Association, the Illinois Hotel Lodging Association and other hospitality industry groups, said the move was in response to Chicago's recognition as a global tourist destination noted for its vibrant dining and nightlife.
The move will confined for the time being to the Central Business District and will be reevaluated later this year to review positive and negative impacts of the extension such as loitering and noise issues.