Station One Smokehouse Closes Amid Coronavirus Crisis

This story was updated at 12:58 p.m., Tuesday March 24, to reflect new information from the Station One Smokehouse staff.

PLAINFIELD, IL — As restaurants continue to struggle during the coronavirus crisis, many are being forced to make hard decisions in balancing employee and customer safety with the need to generate profit. One local barbecue restaurant, Station One Smokehouse on South Des Plaines Street, has decided to err on the side of caution. As of last Friday, March 20, the smokehouse is closed.

The restaurant's closure was announced Friday afternoon on the Station One Facebook page. According to restaurant staff, the decision to close was made primarily with the safety of kitchen workers in mind. Working in such close proximity, the social distancing practices advocated by the Center for Disease Control and Prevention simply are not possible.

"Though it appears we'd be allowed to continue under the new 'shelter in place' rules, our kitchen is not structured to allow for the social distancing required to prevent the spread of COVID-19," a post on the Station One Facebook page said. "We want to err on the side of caution."

Restaurant staff told Patch they had plans to re-open in a limited capacity with only the head chef working in the kitchen, but that they were still working on the logistics of such a set-up.

Food orders put in to the smokehouse before its announcement to close will still be filled, the same Facebook post assured, but no new orders will be taken.

"We have ceased all operations," a staff member said in an automated message set to play on the smokehouse's voicemail.

There is good news for barbecue lovers, though. The smokehouse's closure is not permanent. They have plans to re-open after the coronavirus crisis has passed, whenever that is. Fans of the restaurant are encouraged to follow their Facebook page for the latest updates, as a re-opening is planned as soon as it is deemed safe to do so.

"We will keep you posted on our reopening on that glorious day that we all come out on the other side of this," Smokehouse staff said on Facebook. "Hang in there, be safe, and look forward to that day!"

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