Ald. Tunney's North Side Breakfast Spot Faces Fines Up To $10,500

CHICAGO — Ald. Tom Tunney's restaurant could face up to $10,500 in fines for serving customers in violation of statewide ban on indoor dining put in place due to the coronavirus crisis.

Acting on a tip, city inspectors visited the three Ann Sather locations owned by Tunney and ultimately issued two citations at the Lake View location, 909 W. Belmont Ave., for allegedly allowing indoor dining in violation of COVID-19 restrictions.

Tunney (44th) said in a statement that Ann Sather, "on a sporadic basis" allowed some restaurant regulars to eat indoors while observing social distancing and mask-wearing rules.

"This was error in judgment and won’t happen again.” Tunney said in a statement.

City business and consumer protection department officials said the aldermen's restaruant didn't get special treatment. "This enforcement is consistent with the measures BACP has taken when similar violations were found during the thousands of COVID-19 investigations we have conducted in 2020," officials said in a statement.

Between Thursday and Sunday, city inspectors conducted 152 investigations and issued citations to seven business that allegedly violated state bans on indoor gatherings. Among the coronavirus restriction scofflaws was an unlicensed club at 1257 N. Milwaukee Ave. where investigators found 142 people who were not wearing masks or practicing social distancing attending an event called "Wicker Loft."

The city issued eight citations, including two tickets for "egregiously violating COVID-19 regulations." The city also issued a cease and desist order for operating an illegal club and shutdown the building's second floor for "numerous building and fire code violations," including blocked exits and not having smoke detectors.

Six other business over the weekend were cited for violation the ban on indoor gatherings. They include:

• Zapotlan Bar, 3923 S. Kedzie Ave., was ticketed Thursday for allowing indoor alcohol consumption.
• River North Crossfit, 330 W Ontario Ave., was ticketed Thursday for conducting indoor fitness classes and patrons not wearing masks.
• Randy’s Lounge, 7512 S Cottage Grove Ave., was ticketed Friday for hosting an indoor event with 42 attendees who were eating and drinking without social distancing or wearing face coverings.
• Volare, 201 E. Grand Ave., was ticketed Friday for allowing indoor dining.
• Firewater Saloon, 6689-95 N Oliphant Ave., was ticketed Saturday for allowing indoor dining.
• Flava Luxx, 2912 W Madison Ave., was ticketed Sunday for hosting an indoor event with 22 attendees who were eating and drinking without social distancing or wearing face coverings.

Since March, city officials have conducted 6,994 COVID-19 investigations and cited 344 businesses for violating COVID-19 regulations.