Story thread · 2 reports / 2 sources

Illinois Restaurant Association chief calls out uneven enforcement of sidewalk cafe lights rule

suntimes.com · 14h · first reportShare

The head of the Illinois Restaurant Association says Chicago's uneven enforcement of rules banning strings of sparkling lights for outdoor dining areas is unfair to restaurant owners, who are already struggling. President Sam Toia made the comments following the city's crackdown against one Roscoe Village restaurant’s outdoor lights — even as scores of other restaurants hang them over sidewalks and parkways. Lush Wine & Spirits, 2232 W. Roscoe St., was ordered in March to remove its decorative white lights after an inspector from the city's Department of Business Affairs and Consumer Protection said they got a complaint about Lush's lights. Until then, Lush owner Mitch Einhorn — who has a sidewalk cafe permit — says he'd never heard of any law against hanging lights. Other eateries along Roscoe Street still use similar lights, as do dozens, if not hundreds, of other businesses citywide. Toia says the BACP's complaint-driven system has created an uneven playing field for Chicago restaur