Politics & Government
St. Charles Reopens Street To Promote Takeout Amid Dining Ban
First Street will reopen to traffic Friday afternoon, nearly five months after officials closed portions for outdoor dining areas.
ST. CHARLES, IL — The northern portion of First Street in St. Charles is set to reopen Friday afternoon, almost five months after the city closed portions of the street to create outdoor dining areas.
Mayor Raymond Rogina issued an executive order that calls for the street to fully reopen by 2 p.m. Friday to make it easier for takeout and delivery orders after state officials imposed new restrictions banning indoor service at restaurants and bars.
Find out what's happening in St. Charlesfor free with the latest updates from Patch.
The St. Charles City Council voted earlier this month to extend the First Street closures through Nov. 30, before a surge in coronavirus cases in Region 8, made up of Kane and DuPage counties.
New restrictions started Friday and will continue until the region’s positivity rate drops below 6.5 percent for three days. Under the new restrictions, restaurants and bars cannot provide any indoor service and must close by 11 p.m.
Find out what's happening in St. Charlesfor free with the latest updates from Patch.
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The city council unanimously voted Monday to remove a midnight curfew on bars and restaurants about two months after it was first put in place. The timing of the repeal meant St. Charles bars and restaurants could only operate under normal hours for a few days before the state’s restrictions kicked in.
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Businesses in the previously closed portions of First Street and the St. Charles Business Alliance were “overwhelmingly” in support of reopening the street, Rogina said in a news release.
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