Staffers At Restaurant That Remained Open Contract COVID-19

CRYSTAL LAKE, IL — A Crystal Lake restaurant that defied Gov. J.B. Pritzker's order to close indoor dining has since shut its doors after several employees tested positive for COVID-19. Andy's Restaurant in Crystal Lake announced Wednesday the restaurant, which has been in Crystal Lake for 40 years, would close immediately.

Management at Andy's will hire a sanitizing company to deep clean the restaurant, located at 468 W. Virginia Avenue. The health department is also working with Andy's.

Andy's joined a number of restaurants in the county and throughout the nation last week that announced publicly they would stay open. In the Wednesday Facebook post, Andy's indicated the restaurant is aiming to reopen in the coming weeks.

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"By no means has our business taken COVID lightly or not cared about people’s lives," according to a Oct. 30 post on the Andy's Restaurant Facebook page. "We have followed every precaution there is to keep our staff and customers safe throughout this pandemic."

Less than a week later, Andy's announced the need for the temporary closure due to "multiple staff members" testing positive for COVID-19. In the Wednesday Facebook post, many chastised Andy's for reopening. Others urged the restaurant to stay closed.

"I hope they all recover and haven’t spread it. Please stay closed to indoor dining until the restrictions change," a Chicago area woman wrote on the Facebook page.