Firewater Shut Down For Violating COVID-19 Regulations: Officials

CHICAGO — A Mount Greenwood bar and restaurant that was the scene of a politician-studded Trump rally in November has been issued a long-term closure by the city for allegedly violating COVID-19 regulations.

Firewater Saloon, 3908 W. 111th St., Chicago, was one of 13 eating and drinking establishments cited for allowing indoor dining, officials said. Last weekend, the Chicago Department of Business Affairs and Consumer Protection conducted 107 inspections across the city to ensure that the state’s COVID-19 mitigation measures were being followed.

BACP officials said inspectors found Firewater holding an indoor gathering with 99 attendees. The establishment cited for allowing indoor drinking and holding an indoor gathering. Firewater was issued long-term closure order. The bar and restaurant cannot reopen until it can submit a plan to BACP to safely reopen.

The weekend before the presidential election, Firewater hosted a rally for President Donald Trump attended by FOP President John Catanzara, former Republican senatorial candidate Mark Curran, and “Trump-ocrat” Rod Blagojevich, whose 14-year sentence for public corruption charges was commuted by Trump last year.

BACP has been holding businesses accountable if found egregiously violating the state mitigation measures, in addition to holding informational webinars to help businesses navigate the ever evolving COVID-19 regulation landscape. Firewater also has a location on the Chicago’s Northwest Side in the Edison Park neighborhood. The owner could not immediately be reached for comment.

According to the Chicago Tribune, Firewater’s Edison Park location was cited in December for allowing indoor dining after Gov. J.B. Pritzker ordered a second closure of the state’s restaurants.

The 13 businesses cited by the BACP for violating COVID-19 regulations include:

• Barraco's Pizza – 2105-2121 W. 95th: Allowing indoor dining
• Cafe Istanbul – 2014 W. Division: Allowing indoor dining
• Canton Regio – 1510 W. 18th: Allowing indoor dining
• Chicago-Bridgeport VFW – 3200 S. May: Allowing indoor drinking
• Dee's Candyland – 648 E 75th: Allowing indoor dining and drinking
• Estrella Blanca Night Club – 3049 N Cicero: Allowing indoor drinking
• Eurostars Hotel – 660 N State: Failure to comply with social distancing requirements
• Firewater Saloon Mount Greenwood – 3908 W 111th: Allowing indoor drinking and holding an indoor gathering with 99 attendees. Establishment issued a long-term closure order, requiring them to remain closed until they submit and BACP approves a plan to safely reopen.
• Hookah Time & Habano Cigar – 6416 N Lehigh: Allowing indoor smoking
• King Crab House – 1816 N Halsted: Allowing indoor dining
• McGee's Jukebox – 7000 S. Halsted: Allowing indoor dining and drinking
• Mitchell's Tap – 3356 S. Halsted: Allowing indoor dining and drinking
• Unlicensed Club – 2881 W Cermak: Holding an indoor gathering with 68 attendees, with a cover charge. The Establishment was issued a Cease and Desist Order for operating an unlicensed club.

Since March 2020, BACP has conducted 31 webinars on the COVID-19 regulations, reaching over 3,400 attendees, and made over 30,000 outreach calls directly to businesses, agency said in a news release. During that time, we have also conducted over 8,000 COVID-19 investigations and cited 416 businesses for violating COVID-19 regulations.