Gaming Cafes and Bars Face Unique Hurdles During Pandemic | Eater Chicago

"A massive, 30,000-square-foot former meatpacking factory in the Fulton Market District has reopened as a dining-and-games destination offering bowling, foosball, darts, ping-pong and arcade games while encouraging small “immediate social crew” groups (eight or fewer). The operator says it will follow pandemic safety measures—masks for staff and patrons, contactless menus and payment, staff health checks—and has added game-specific protocols such as escorting bowlers to lanes, sanitizing keypads, assigning balls by player preference, and enabling song selection via a digital app. Although there were plans for a karaoke host to manage rooms and sanitize mics/monitors between sessions, a company representative later confirmed that karaoke will not be offered at this location at this time. The concept’s reopening comes amid broader financial strain for the chain, which closed at least one suburban location and lost continued investment from its majority backer, even as some other outposts around the country begin to reopen." - Naomi Waxman