DeKalb County restaurant owners ‘excited and ready to re-open’ during Tier 1

Mary Wilson, one of the owners of The Hillside Restaurant in DeKalb, had one word for the re-opening of restaurants under Illinois’ Tier 1 Mitigations: “Hallelujah.”

The Hillside Restaurant had been closed for nearly four months due to the governor and health department’s mitigation mandates during the COVID-19 pandemic.

“It’s definitely been challenging with the loss of staff,” Wilson said. “There are a lot of obstacles to get us back on track. We need wait staff and an assistant cook. But we wouldn’t have made it through the pandemic without our loyal customers. Their support has been very humbling.”

Under Tier 1, limited indoor services are allowed in all bars and restaurants at a capacity of 25 guests or less or 25% capacity per room as of Monday, Jan. 18. Indoor service reservations must be limited to a 2-hour max with a maximum of four people per party and is recommended to only be with members of the same household.

All patrons must be seated at tables, which must be placed six feet apart. Actions not allowed indoors during Tier 1 include dancing, standing around or sitting at the bar.

Many establishments throughout DeKalb County have remained open for indoor service in defiance of the mitigations, prompting the DeKalb County Health Department to begin publishing a weekly list of those operating outside of regulations.

The Hillside is one of the establishments which followed regulations, however, and staff will look to reopen dining in an organized and cautiously optimistic way.

Wilson said that she is planning the restaurant’s Valentine’s Day menu for the Feb. 14 holiday, but she is “cautious.”

“I’m looking forward to re-opening, but I’m unsure of it all because [restaurants requiring to close] happened before and it could happen again,” she said. “I think all restaurant owners are in a state of disbelief. I know I’m trying to wrap my head around it. We just don’t want to open too fast and have to close again.”

Sarah Meyer, the general manager of Tom & Jerry’s of Sycamore, said that she’s “excited to take a step back to normalcy” with Tier 1.

“The first time we were shut down, customers could eat out on the patio,” Meyer said. “Even though we had a mild winter, now it’s snowing and cold. It’s a really great time to re-open, with [the Sycamore Chamber of Commerce’s] Eat Week starting this week and Super Bowl catering approaching.”

Meyer said what she missed most about not having indoor dining due to mitigations was “the social interaction with customers.”

“Finally being able re-open for dining makes us feel like we can start being a community again,” she said. “We’re so grateful for the unwavering support of our customers, and we’re very appreciative. We can’t wait to welcome them back into our restaurant again.”

Maria’s Little Italy in Sycamore will re-open for dine-in services on Tuesday, Feb. 9, to celebrate the restaurant’s second anniversary. The restaurant will continue to offer carry-outs, delivery via EatStreet and Grubhub, pickup for catering and take-and-bake pasta dishes.

“Our first year was difficult because we were a new business, and during our second year, we’ve had the pandemic,” restaurant owner Maria Male said. “I miss going up to tables and getting to know customers. Food brings family and friends together, and I’ve always considered my customers my friends, my family.”

Although Male said that she is “just as excited to see her customers as they are to see her.”

“We’re looking forward to re-opening,” Male said. “We will be taking all safety precautions because customers’ and our employees’ health and safety is important. Even though we’ll be re-opening, the pandemic is still not over. Even though the pandemic has been a negative time, it’s brought so many people in the community together. I’m blessed to receive so much love and support from everyone. We’re excited and ready to re-open.”

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