Illinois bars and restaurants to close Monday night

Posted on March 16, 2020
John Brown of Goodfield stocked up on alcohol for a few friends after he heard Illinois bars and restaurants will be closed until at least March 30. (Scott Miller/WJBC)

 

By Neil Doyle

BLOOMINGTON – It will be at least until the end of the month before people can enter a bar or restaurant in Illinois.

Gov. JB Pritzker on Sunday announced that all Illinois bars and restaurants will be closed through March 30 to help prevent the spread of the coronavirus. This will affect dine-in only – as drive-thru, delivery and curbside pickup options will still be allowed.

“We’ll do pickup and delivery and we’ll conform with everybody else, I don’t agree with it, but that isn’t my decision so we’ll do what we have to do,” said Bob Groetken, owner of Schooners in Bloomington.

John Brown of Goodfield stocked up at Binny’s Beverage Depot in Bloomington when he heard the news.

“I think it’s going to take a toll on the economy and we have friends who own a restaurant in Eureka, it’s going to hit their pocketbook,” Brown said.

Meanwhile, on Sunday Illinois health officials announced 29 new coronavirus cases, bringing the state total to 93.

Neil Doyle can be reached at [email protected]

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