Local businesses impacted by NATO Summit

Customers at Weather Mark Tavern looking
for NATO protesters on Sunday

For many businesses in the South Loop, what to do during the NATO Summit was a question they kept asking themselves. Some decided to board up their windows and doors and leave town. Others stayed open, hired security staff, and hoped for the best.

A mixed bag
Yesterday, NBC Chicago reporter, Michelle Releford visited our neighborhood to inquire about the impact the Summit had on businesses in the South Loop. Like everything in life, it was a mixed bag. Some lost business, others offered discounts and incentives to stay in town.

What do you think?
Was it a good or bad weekend for you? Were you pleased with how things were handled in Chicago and the South Loop during the NATO Summit?

NATO Resources

Click on link at left to print flyer.

NATO. It’s on everyone’s mind this weekend. Here are some links and information to help navigate the road closures and events related to the Summit. If you’re on social media, some Twitter feeds you might want to consider following: @Gr8SouthLoop, @Fioretti2ndWard, and @ChiJournal. There are other Twitter feeds to follow, including the official feed from @ChicagoNATO. The above are just our suggestions.

Click on this link to view a list of known NATO-related activities planned for this weekend. Other related links below:

Secret Service Press Release
NotiFyChicago (you can sign up for current news and alerts)

For some advice on what to do should you find yourself in the thick of things. Check out the video below.

South Loop Restaurant Offers Discount During NATO

Brasserie wants you to visit them during NATO.

Brasserie by LM is offering discounts during the NATO Summit this month. From Friday, May 18, through Monday, May 21, guests who identify themselves as a “neighbor “of Brasserie will receive a 20% discount on their food and drink order.

Not sure they’ll be asking for ID, but sounds like a great time to check out this new eatery.

Brasserie by LM is located at 800 S. Michigan Ave. Their hours of operation are Sunday – Saturday 6 a.m. – 10:30 p.m.

City Evacuation Plan During NATO?

According to the CBS Chicago, they obtained an e-mail that they say was sent to Red Cross volunteers in Milwaukee requesting shelters be put on the ready “in the event of evacuation of Chicago” during the NATO Summit.

The CBS report goes on to say that the Red Cross chapter spokesperson said, “Our direction has come from the City of Chicago and the Secret Service.”

The city’s Office of Emergency Management and Communication has denied issuing the directive and the Secret Service did not return CBS’s calls for clarification.

Residents have to wonder if the city and the Secret Service are withholding information or if this is much ado about nothing.

We’ll just have to wait and see, but this report, if true, is disturbing.

NATO Summit comes to the South Loop

Unless you’ve been living under a rock, you know the NATO Summit (May 20-21) is coming to Chicago. What you probably don’t know is how this event will impact the neighborhood. NATO security team members took questions from an anxious audience at a recent meeting at Second Presbyterian Church on Monday, but many questions remain.

Perimeter leaked

Chicago will be the first American city other than
Washington to host a NATO Summit.

Tuesday the ACLU leaked information on the perimeter surrounding McCormick Place to be “locked down” as reported on ABC 7 News, although the perimeter details as reported have not been confirmed by the Secret Service. Based on what was said at Monday’s meeting, the perimeter could be somewhat fluid according to how events, including the planned marches and protests, play out.

2,000 journalists to cover Summit
According to the NATO website, besides the foreign dignitaries and protesters, there will be 2,000 journalists descending on the South Loop. With all the motorcades and the corresponding security details, periodic street closures will bring inconvenience for sure.

Expect to be inconvenienced
If you live in the South Loop and are planning to stay in the neighborhood, you’ll have to expect some disruption to your normal routine. Additionally, as pointed out at Monday’s meeting by the security consultants, you may want to make sure you have proper identification on hand, just in case you are asked to identify yourself. If you have to travel in and out of the South Loop, walking and public transportation is your best bet.

Keep current
To stay on top of news related to the Summit, keep checking the NATO Web site regularly for updates. You can also follow the Summit on Twitter @ChicagoNATO.