A number of Chicago businesses will close Thursday amid nationwide "Day Without Immigrants" demonstrations.
Organizers in cities across the U.S. are telling immigrants to miss class, miss work and not shop on Thursday as a way to show the country how important they are to America's economy and way of life.
Celebrity chef Rick Bayless said Wednesday he would be closing four of his Chicago restaurants "out of respect" for his staff's decision to support a planned civil action in response to recent immigration issues.
Bayless said Frontera Grill, Topolobampo, Xoco and Fonda Frontera will all be closed Thursday.
Other businesses planning to close in Chicago Thursday include:
- Pilsen's Chamber of Commerce
- La Vaca Margarita Bar in Pilsen
- Bombon Bakery in Little Village
- Ixcateco Grill
- Acadia
- taqueria L’Patron
- 5 Rabinitos
- Taqueria El Mezquite
- Azul 18
- Cesars Killer Margaritas on Broadway
- La Quina de los Reyes
- Vista Hermosa Restaurant
- The Berghoff
- VPT Burgers
- La Parada en Pilsen
- Razpachos Neveria
- Blind Faith Cafe
- Dona Torta
- La Catedral Cafe of Lincoln Square
- Pacos Tacos
- Salsa and Chips Inc.
- Rapidito Colombian Gourmet Bites
- Rojo Gusano (all locations)
- Revolucion Mexican Steakhouse
- El Mariachi Tequila Bar & Grill
- El Mariachi Restaurant
- The Grillroom Chophouse & Wine Bar
- Valentina Restaurant
- The Handlebar
- Cafe Tola California
- El Nuevo Mexicano
- Raxpachas Neveria
- Dona Torta
- Townhouse Restaurant and Wine Bar
- Tierra Caliente Restaurant
- CESCAS Margarita Bar & Grill
- La Lagartija Taqueria
- Las Quecas
- Los Comales Little Village
- Quesadilla La Reina Del Sur
- Tacos Tequilas
- Cermak producer grocery on Diversey and Cicero
- Club Kaliente
Numerous Pete's Fresh Markets locations in Chicago were also closed "in support" of employees and community members, the company said. While some locations remained open, the market said it supported any employee participating in the demonstration. It also offered for employees at closed stores who still want to work to come to the open locations.
The closed markets include:
- 5724 S. Kedzie Ave.
- 4700 S. Kedzie Ave.
- 4343 S. Pulaski Rd.
- 5838 S. Pulaski Rd.
- 2526 W. Cermak Rd.
Chicago's Eataly said it would remain open, but tweeted that it's an immigrant company, born in Italy.
"We apologize for any delay [Thursday]," the company wrote. "We are an immigrant company & support any empployees participating in the strike."
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President Donald Trump has pledged to increase deportation of immigrants living in the country illegally, build a wall along the Mexican border, and ban people from certain majority-Muslim countries from coming into the U.S. He also has blamed high unemployment on immigration.
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A similar protest took place in Wisconsin on Monday. Thousands marched in a "Day Without Latinos" in response to Milwaukee Sheriff David Clarke's threat to crackdown on undocumented immigrants, NBC reported.
