Iconic Chicago restaurant The Berghoff reopens
Chicago s iconic German Berghoff restaurant reopened Monday in the Loop.
CHICAGO - It is another sign of a return to normal as Chicago s iconic restaurant The Berghoff is back open for business.
For the past 15 months, the classic German eatery has been closed due to the pandemic and strict COVID-19 capacity limits.
For 123 years, The Berghoff has been located at State and Adams and it is currently owned by fourth generation Berghoff family members. For them, it was never a question if they were going to reopen, but when. It was heartbreaking for the family and for the staff, said The Berghoff brand manager Colleen Silk about the closure. Just being able to turn the light on and walk around the corner, I was even a little choked up.
Brian Rich/Sun-Times
Ahead of Monday’s full reopening of The Berghoff restaurant, the restaurant’s Adams Street Brewery staff was serving up beers and the famed Berghoff Root Beer on Sunday at the first installment of Sundays on State.
The Berghoff and its sister brewery have been largely idle since the restaurant announced its temporary closure in July 2020 due to slow foot traffic in the Loop during COVID-19 capacity limits.
Like many restaurants, the Berghoff lost some of its staff due to the pandemic’s budgetary impact, with happy-hour and lunch crowds scarce during the past year. Related
“It’s important that we get families back in the Loop,” said Colleen Silk, brand manager for The Berghoff. Staffers at the family-owned Berghoff and Adams Street Brewery were excited to take part in Sundays on State and get back in contact with the community the businesses have served for more than 130 years, Silk said.