Children wearing hats and mittens sipped hot cocoa around a warm fire on a sunny afternoon Sunday at Flossmoor Station restaurant and brewery.

They wore masks and posed for pictures with a cardboard cutout of Santa Claus as couples and small groups drank and dined in plastic igloo domes.

“Normally we would have a big holiday party with a horse-drawn carriage and other festivities,” said Sandi Nelson, a restaurant worker who photographed children with Santa. “This year is smaller, but we still wanted to do something.”

The socially distanced affair heeded public health guidance about staying safe during the pandemic. No indoor dining is occurring at Flossmoor Station, 1035 Sterling Ave.

The restaurant and brewery is located next to a Metra commuter train station and overlooks a quaint downtown that has the feel of an old-time village square.

“It was an easy decision to make,” said Dean Armstrong, an attorney and husband of restaurant owner Carolyn Armstrong. “This crisis won’t last forever. People will be impressed we did not defy the law.”

Many other bars, restaurants, breweries and similar businesses in the south and southwest suburbs have openly defied bans on indoor service. Some have publicly flaunted their defiance with social media posts.

Leaders of some municipalities have publicly stated they disagree with state restrictions, and that authorities in their towns will not assist in efforts to enforce indoor dining bans.

They may argue that they’re doing what must be done in order for businesses to survive. However, Flossmoor proves that towns and merchants can follow the rules and remain successful.

“When we talk to businesses we stress the importance of hunkering down,” Flossmoor Mayor Paul Braun said. “We’ll get through this but we’ve all got to follow the state mitigation rules.”

Flossmoor shows that debating safety against a deadly virus versus survival of businesses is a false choice. Businesses are open, but people gather outdoors as much as possible and wear masks when they are indoors.

“I think it speaks very highly of Flossmoor,” Armstrong said.

When the pandemic is over, village officials and business owners in Flossmoor will be able to hold their heads up, say they overcame adversity and that they did it the right way.

“We’re not making money, but we’re covering a large part of our operating costs,” Armstrong said.

They continue to provide livelihoods for most of their employees by offering contactless curbside pickup of meals in addition to outdoor dining. Customers have said how much they appreciate how the restaurant remains open, he said.

“But you can’t take comments from the community and deposit them in your bank account,” Armstrong said.

Flossmoor Station acquired the igloo domes, while a village grant helped cover part of the costs of a tent and heaters, Armstrong and Braun said. The village closed part of Sterling Avenue to parking, rented tents and bought heaters to serve patrons of Dunning’s Gourmet Market & Deli, 1050 Sterling Ave., and The Bistro on Sterling, 1040 Sterling Ave.

“We have spent over $50,000 in funds to help businesses, just trying to do what we can,” Braun said.

Bigger towns with larger retail bases and more revenue from sales taxes have spent hundreds of thousands of dollars on drawings and other incentive programs that have encouraged people to patronize local businesses.

People have politicized the pandemic. Dining indoors and shunning masks makes a statement about personal freedom for some. Others may not understand the severity of the risks, despite warnings about how hospitals are near capacity.

Some businesses have skirted the indoor dining ban, but they don’t publicize it. Is this what it was like to visit a speak-easy during Prohibition?

“There’s a wink and a nod,” Armstrong said.

Armstrong and Braun credit elected village board members and appointed staff members for their work. Video teleconferences have been held with business owners.

Tents, heaters and other items were researched and procured at the lowest possible prices, they said.

Initially, the village rented two tents for Sterling Avenue, but later cut back to one.

“They realized two tents was too much and that one tent could easily accommodate the need,” Armstrong said. “They were targeted and smart about it.”

Lest anyone question whether politics motivated this positive recognition of Flossmoor’s efforts to help businesses, it’s worth noting that Braun is not seeking reelection.

Flossmoor will elect a new mayor in April.

The fact that the three restaurants near the train station have remained open has helped create foot traffic for other local shops, Armstrong said. The commerce has helped provide a sense of normalcy during a topsy-turvy year.

“Nobody likes to see a ghost town,” Armstrong said.

No one can say with certainty when the pandemic will end and when things will get back to “normal,” or if they ever will. COVID-19 had claimed 326,871 American lives as of Thursday, according to Johns Hopkins University.

The next couple months are the coldest of the year and may be the most difficult for establishments to survive without offering indoor dining.

People considering takeout dining options during January and February may want to consider supporting establishments that have done all they can to abide by public health guidance during the pandemic.

Ted Slowik is a columnist for the Daily Southtown.

tslowik@tribpub.com