Business and Economic Development

Updated March 18, 2020

March 18, 2021 - Updated Outdoor Dining Guidelines 

Revised Outdoor Dining Guidelines for restaurants and bars took effect on March 18, 2021.  The guidelines provide for additional flexibility for Skokie establishments. Please CLICK HERE for details.

Governor Announces Bridge Phase Parameters In Anticipation For Full Business Recovery 

As of March 18, 2021, new metrics and guidelines aimed at transitioning the state to a full reopening were announced by Governor Pritzker. The "Bridge Phase" would allow for higher capacity limits prior to entering Phase 5.  This new phase would allow for higher capacity limits at places like museums, zoos and spectator events as well as increased business operations, the state announced, but masks will continue to be mandated.  This phase will be allowed once the entire state reaches a 70% first-dose vaccination rate for residents 65 and older, in addition to maintain the current required metrics of at least 20% ICU beds availability and holding steady on hospitalizations for COVID-19 or COVID-like illnesses, mortality rates and case rates over a 28-day monitoring period. 

Full details on what will be allowed in this Bridge Phase can be found by CLICKING HERE.

Phase 4 Mitigations Now in Effect as of  2/2/21. Indoor Dining Limits Expanded!

Since metrics have continued to improve, regions 10 and 11 have advanced to Phase 4 effective February 2, 2021.  To that effect, indoor dining is now expanded to groups of 10 or less and tables 6' apart.  Please note that as long as table distances and impermeable barriers are in place, Skokie Restaurants are NOT limited to 25% Capacity in Dining areas as the Skokie Health Department is not under the jurisdiction of the Cook County Health Department and as such, not subject to different regulations from Cook County.  The Village complies with those regulations as defined by IDPH.

Detailed information pertaining to Phase 4 can be found at the top of the IDPH website homepage - CLICK HERE.

For a downloadable summary of Phase 4 attributes, CLICK HERE.

Below is a summary for Phase 4 activities:

RESTAURANTS AND BARS
• Indoor dining and drinking now permitted for parties of up to 10 people
• Seated areas should be arranged so that tables allow for 6 feet between parties; impermeable barriers may be installed between booths which are less than 6 feet apart

RETAIL AND SERVICE COUNTER
• Continue capacity limit of no more than 50% occupancy

PERSONAL CARE
• Continue capacity limit of no more than 50% occupancy

INDOOR/OUTDOOR RECREATION
• Reopening select indoor recreation facilities (e.g., bowling alleys, skating rinks); indoor playgrounds and trampoline parks should remain closed
• Indoor recreation to operate at lesser of 50 customers or 50% of facility capacity

MUSEUMS
• Capacity limit of no more than 25% occupancy
• Guided tours should be limited to 50 or fewer people per group

MEETINGS AND SOCIAL EVENTS
• Limit to the lesser of 50 people or 50% of room capacity
• Multiple groups may meet in the same facility if they are socially distanced and in separate rooms

Downtown Skokie Homewood Suites by Hilton Hotel and Conference Center - Coming Soon

On December 7, 2020 the Skokie Village Board of Trustees approved a Development Agreement between the Village and E&M Skokie, LLC to construct a 142-room Homewood Suites by Hilton.  The hotel is anticipated to be under construction by the summer of 2021 and located at the northeast corner of Niles Avenue and Oakton Street.  The hotel will anchor and be a needed amenity for not only the region and Skokie, but also the Illinois Science + Technology Park.  The Village will purchase and retain the eastern portion of the property which includes Annie’s Pancake house which will continue to operate at its current locale at 4900 Oakton Street.  

In addition to the hotel rooms, the new Homewood Suites by Hilton Downtown Skokie Hotel will feature a rooftop bar and pub open to the public, 13,000 square feet of ground floor retail, full amenities for hotel guests, as well as 10,000 square feet of banquet and event space.   Coinciding with the hotel, public improvements will take place along Oakton Terrace and over 115 additional public parking spaces in addition to those needed by the hotel will be provided in a new parking garage to the north of the hotel itself along Niles Avenue.

For more information, please CLICK HERE

Support Skokie's Small Businesses!

We know you are all doing the best you can to support local businesses during these uncertain times.  We hope that you are also continuing to refer to the Village of Skokie’s promotional websites CLICK HERE  along with our partners at the Skokie Chamber of Commerce, Skokie Public Library, and Chicago’s North Shore Convention and Visitors Bureau. As a reminder, please encourage friends, colleagues and family members to Subscribe to SkokieNews for important updates throughout the year. 

10/12/20

Welcome to Skokie Video released.  

Click here for the new “Welcome to Skokie” video which highlighted the Village at the recently held SelectChicago Foreign Direct Investment (FDI) Virtual Conference.

August 27, 2020 - Skokie Business Update

Click HERE or on graphic below to read the latest Business Update.

August 27, 2020 - Updated Outdoor Dining Guidelines Provide Additional Flexibility

Revised Outdoor Dining Guidelines for restaurants and bars took effect on August 27, 2020.  The guidelines provide for additional flexibility for Skokie establishments. Please CLICK HERE for details.

August 4, 2020 - Village of Skokie Economic Recovery Plan Unveiled

In response to COVID-19, Skokie Mayor George Van Dusen was one of the first suburban Chicago mayors to establish the Skokie Economic Recovery Task Force. Between May 12 through July 29, 2020, the Task Force met regularly via Zoom to help guide and assist Village staff, leadership, and the community to develop a thoughtful and actionable Economic Recovery Plan.   Recommendations identified focus on priorities deemed essential by Task Force Members, community members, elected officials, and from discussions and feedback received from over 250 Skokie-based businesses and service providers across all segments of the economy.  To view the report CLICK HERE or on the cover page below.   

July 7, 2020 Business Update

Click HERE or on graphic below to read the latest Business Update.