Outdoor dining applications open for Bloomington bars, restaurants

Posted on March 30, 2021
Barriers or other traffic control devices may be provided by the city at a particular location at the city’s decresion. (Photo courtesy: Heart of Illinois ABC/File)

By Heart of Illinois ABC

BLOOMINGTON – Bloomington bars and restaurants can now apply online to offer outdoor dining to customers.

The city says this must be done before any tables, chairs or other outdoor dining elements are put out.

Designated outdoor dining areas have already been outlined by the city and businesses do not need to submit a site plan. These areas will not be set up until applications have been received, reviewed, approved and crews have been scheduled to place barriers.

The city says outdoor dining at all establishments must close at 10:30 p.m. Sunday through Thursday and 12 a.m. midnight on Friday and Saturday.

Outdoor music must stop at 10 p.m. and should not be a disruption to neighboring residences or businesses.

Barriers or other traffic control devices may be provided by the city at a particular location at the city’s decresion.

Heart of Illinois ABC can be reached at [email protected]. 

Blogs

Labor Day – Expanding voting rights for all

By Mike Matejka Because of COVID, there is no Labor Day Parade this year.  It’s always a great event for our everyday workers to march proudly down the street and enjoys the festive crowd. If there had been a parade, this year’s Labor Day theme was to be “150 years of struggle: your right to vote.” …

Is federal mobilization the answer?

By Mike Matejka As President Donald Trump threatens to send federal marshals into Chicago, over the objections of Illinois Governor J.B. Pritzker, recall another Illinois Governor who protested the incursion of armed federal personnel into the city.   Those federal troops, rather than calming, escalated the situation, leading to deaths and violence. Illinois poet Vachel Lindsay…

In these troubled times, to my fellow white Americans

By Mike Matejka Our nation is at a unique watershed in human relations. African-Americans have been killed too many times in the past before George Floyd, but the response to this man’s death is international and all-encompassing. I was a grade-schooler during the Civil Rights 1960s. I watched Birmingham demonstrators hosed and the Selma – Montgomery…

Workers’ Memorial Day – Remember those whose job took their life

Looking around our community, when we say employer, most will respond to State Farm, Country, or Illinois State University.   We too often forget those who are building our roads, serving our food, or our public employees. COVID-19 has made us more aware of the risk.  Going to work every day for some people means…