Darien Invests $106K More Into Restaurants And Bars

Press release from the City of Darien:

Oct. 16, 2020

The Darien City Council approved an additional $106,000 economic relief package through a food and beverage sales tax rebate program to support eligible restaurants and bars in the City of Darien impacted by the COVID-19 pandemic. Using Coronavirus Aid, Relief, and Economic Security (CARES) Act funds, the program will support those businesses that generate a local food and beverage tax and have set up special outdoor areas to maintain business through the pandemic. Businesses that have outdoor service/seating as part of their normal business operations are not eligible for the funds.

The City Council resolution, adopted Oct. 5, 2020, authorizes the City to rebate six months of local food and beverage tax collected between May and October of 2019 to the following businesses: Blueberry Hill Restaurant, Broosters of Darien, Chuck’s Southern Comforts Café, Jam N Jelly Pancake House, Mi Hacienda, Patio Restaurant of Darien, Q Bar, TGI Fridays, Café Smilga, Zazzo’s Pizza & Bar and El Chile. The rebate program will distribute the tax collected back to these businesses in the same amount that they generated during that six-month period.

“These businesses have demonstrated remarkable innovation and invested resources in adapting to serve customers during the pandemic,” said Darien Mayor Joseph Marchese. “The investments they made have preserved jobs and promoted economic activity in our community. We are proud to be able to support these businesses with additional tax rebates.”

In April, the Darien City Council approved a $310,000 economic relief package for local
restaurants and bars that refunded food and beverage tax collected in the six-month period from May to October 2019 back to businesses in the same amount that they generated during that period. Eligible businesses were required to reopen to their full-service when the State of Illinois’ Stay at Home Order was lifted.

This press release was produced by the City of Darien. The views expressed here are the author's own.