A few establishments in Elgin area keeping
New Year’s Eve alive
Despite a state ban on bars and restaurants offering indoor dining and drinking because of the pandemic, a few in the Elgin area will be doing just that on New Year’s Eve.
Stanley’s Ale House and Restaurant in South Elgin, for example, is planning a party with a “2020 Sucked” theme. In addition to their normal Thursday night trivia night competition, they’ll be offering karaoke and a midnight champagne toast, owner Dawn Stanley said.
While low-key compared to what they might normally do on New Year’s Eve, Stanley said they simply can no longer afford to keep their doors shut to everything other than outdoor dining and take-out/delivery meals.
“It was a tough year with the complete shutdown in March,” said Stanley, who owns the 335 N. McLean Blvd. restaurant/bar with her husband, Scott. “We did carry-out for a couple of months. It’s been hard to bounce back from (the shutdown). Take-out only goes so far. Being open is where the money is.”
Old Republic Kitchen and Bar on South Randall Road in Elgin plans to have a live band, Hi Infidelity, performing at its BYE 2020! New Year’s Eve celebration, being held in The Igloo, its heated outdoor tent.
The $15 cover charge includes a free champagne toast, and the bar/restaurant plans to stay open until 1 a.m. in violation of the state’s closing time for outdoor dining and food pickup and delivery.
At least four restaurant/bars also plan to be open past midnight in downtown East Dundee.
None are offering special New Year’s Eve packages, but Bandito Barney’s Beach Club and Bordello, Carol’s Corner and Rosie O’Hare’s Public House all plan to stay open until 1 a.m. Diamond Jim’s Gas Grill will be open until 11 p.m.
Rosie O’Hare’s closed in late October when some employees tested positive for COVID-19, reopened on a limited basis on Nov. 6 and then returned to a daily schedule earlier this month. They say they are making sure there’s no repeat of a coronavirus outbreak, according to their posts on social media.
“We were blindsided so just taking precautions!” a post said.
Elgin Public House opted to restart indoor dining several weeks ago despite the state ban and won’t be changing anything Thursday other than to close at 8 p.m. instead of 11, according to its Facebook page.
Downtown Elgin’s Martini Room won’t be breaking the rules but is selling a $39 drink kit for New Year’s Eve celebrations at home. The Fresh Start Martini Flight features eight mini martinis — flavors include Passionista, Citrus Burst, Very Berry and Grapefruit Swizzler — and a 750ml champagne split.
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