Modified Clark Street closure to allow limited vehicle traffic, expand outdoor dining

Two weeks after the outdoor dining season officially began, city officials have issued clarity on the popular Clark Street closure in River North — and the local City Council member isn’t happy.

The closure of the three-block stretch on North Clark Street between Grand Avenue and Kinzie Street will return, but with a compromise that allows both dining and vehicle traffic on the street. The area was closed to traffic completely in years past.

Permits issued Wednesday by the Chicago Department of Transportation allow restaurants to extend outdoor dining areas onto the sidewalk and the curb lane. They’re in effect through the end of the city’s outdoor dining season, which runs from May 1 to Oct. 31.

Mayor Brandon Johnson’s office said in a statement that the new arrangement “balances the needs of residents, businesses, workers, visitors and the local community.

“The format will give participating restaurants extra capacity and create an inviting outdoor space for dining, while taking into account the need for accessibility and traffic flow in the River North community,” the statement said.

But Ald. Brendan Reilly (42nd) said he was “not remotely happy with the Administration’s decision” to allow vehicles to use the street. Responding to a question on X, Reilly tweeted that he had been negotiating for “the past several weeks” with the city departments of Transportation and Business Affairs and Consumer Protection.

After those talks, “I was under the impression the compromise would be curb-lane closures from May to July and then a full street closure from July to October.”

A survey last year by Reilly of more than 3,000 residents in the ward found at least 80% were strongly in favor of a full street closure, he said.

Tyler Pasciak LaRiviere/Sun-Times

The outdoor dining program was introduced in 2020 during the COVID-19 pandemic to help restaurants continue to serve customers in a socially distant manner.

The new rules are seen as a compromise between River North residents, other businesses and organizations that oppose the full street closure, and restaurants on Clark Street that benefit from seating extra patrons.

Bob Gottfred, president of the Sterling Private Residences Condominium Association, said the Clark Street closure caused “crushing traffic” and blocked off a “main artery” for emergency vehicles driving through the area.

“I’m concerned about our residents and their safety, and their quality of life, getting in and out of our building and bottling up in front of our place, not to mention the safety part of it,” said Gottfred, who lives in one of the 389 units in the Sterling condo.

Other organizations like the River North Residents Association, Magnificent Mile Association and Gold Coast Neighbors, along with tens of other restaurants and hotels, have in the past submitted letters to the city opposing the full street closure.

The Smith, however, a restaurant at Clark and Kinzie, preferred a full street closure, general manager Eric Scofield said. But he added they’re thankful to have “a little bit more than just the sidewalk.”

“Obviously, we want the full street closure. It was great for the neighborhood and great for business, and we think it also attracted people to the area on a positive level,” Scofield said.

Last year’s full Clark Street closure didn’t happen until mid-July, so having an extended outdoor seating area this early in the year “is definitely a bonus,” Scofield added.

The sidewalk and curb lane space should give The Smith an extra 10 to 16 tables, far fewer than the 30 to 40 additional tables it had last year when the full street was closed to vehicle traffic. That difference isn’t expected to make too much of a dent in overall business, though, Scofield added.

Despite the new rules, The Smith is still hoping the city will expand outdoor seating later this summer, as it did last year after the NASCAR race in July.

“It was awesome for the neighborhood,” Scofield said. “It brought the right kind of people to the neighborhood that were having fun and spending money, so I think it was just an overall positive vibe in the summer for the city.”