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Navy Pier will close next month, hopefully reopen in the spring

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Illinois

With attendance down to a trickle due to the pandemic, officials at Chicago’s Navy Pier said Tuesday the lakefront attraction will close Sept. 8 and will not reopen until next spring.

The decision means more than 70 local businesses that operate at the pier must close. Major attractions such as the Ferris wheel and the Chicago Children’s Museum already are closed.

Navy Pier CEO Marilynn Gardner said the attraction is facing a $20 million deficit this year because of lost business due to COVID-19. The pier closed March 16 and reopened June 10, but has seen summer attendance at less than 20% of normal rates.

“While this was a very difficult decision for the organization, it was a necessary one to proactively ensure the long-term success of one of Chicago’s most treasured and important civic institutions and the communities it serves,” Gardner said.

* Tribune…

Closing as the weather turns colder and visitorship typically decreases will help the pier limit its losses in a year when the not-for-profit entity was already projecting falling $20 million short of anticipated revenues. That’s more than a third of last year’s $58.9 million take, according to the executive. […]

One new business may open, however. The new 222-room Sable Hotel atop an existing pier building is nearing completion, and pier officials said it could go ahead and open while the rest of the pier is closed, according to Robert Habeeb, CEO of Maverick Hotels and Restaurants, the developer of the property that will operate under the Curio Collection by Hilton umbrella.

“As of today our goal is to open the hotel on time Nov. 1,” Habeeb said Monday evening, although he emphasized that, as with everything during the pandemic, plans are subject to revision.

“We understand their rationale for closing,” he added, speaking of pier officials. “It’s a very sad circumstance for all of us, but we get it. We now have to step back and assess our own position.”

Who’s gonna want to stay at a Navy Pier hotel if the pier is closed?

posted by Rich Miller
Tuesday, Aug 18, 20 @ 11:02 am

Comments

=== Who’s gonna want to stay at a Navy Pier hotel if the pier is closed.===
I would, if you get a discount on parking. It’s a great location and the lake and the Chicago skyline never disappoint.
I used to love to take my daughter there in the winter for ice skating. It was so uncrowded then.

Comment by Da Big Bad Wolf Tuesday, Aug 18, 20 @ 11:07 am
Running along the lake front is a special treat. Uber means getting to and from the location is easier and cheaper than years ago.

Comment by Downstate Tuesday, Aug 18, 20 @ 11:09 am
Honestly… a 33% reduction in revenue seems surprisingly low to me.

Comment by JoeMaddon Tuesday, Aug 18, 20 @ 11:11 am
“Who’s gonna want to stay at a Navy Pier hotel if the pier is closed” It probably has a nice view of the lake.

Comment by A Jack Tuesday, Aug 18, 20 @ 11:13 am
It would probably be quiet. And the view is still there.

Comment by Cheryl44 Tuesday, Aug 18, 20 @ 11:18 am
Personally I have only been to Navy Pier once since they cancelled ChicagoFest. They should consider bringing a music festival like that back after the pandemic. A huge variety of bands at a very low cost.

Comment by A Jack Tuesday, Aug 18, 20 @ 11:32 am
Sounds like some are willing though we are not staying at any hotel during the pandemic unless some sort of emergency. Been to Navy Pier a few times, stayed at the Hyatt on East Wacker, close enough to everything. Fun times. I hope everything survives and returns to the way it was in that area after this passes.

Comment by Just A Dude Tuesday, Aug 18, 20 @ 11:57 am
To echo some of the other comments about nice lake location/less crowded, there are two huge divvy stations there, Chicago’s best-in-the-world architecture is COVID-proof, probably some good deals on curbside pick-up or delivery from world class restaurants - for a “don’t stray too far from home” vacation you could do a lot worse!

Comment by lake county democrat Tuesday, Aug 18, 20 @ 12:02 pm
Riva and Shakespeare — I hope they make it.

Shakespeare will, I suspect. But Riva. Fingers crossed.

Comment by Mr. K Tuesday, Aug 18, 20 @ 12:46 pm
Who’s gonna want to stay at a Navy Pier hotel if the pier is closed? My money is on Oswego Willy.

Comment by pool boy Tuesday, Aug 18, 20 @ 12:48 pm
=== Who’s gonna want to stay at a Navy Pier hotel if the pier is closed?===

A world class city is more than one attraction, even if it’s arguably one of the state’s biggest.

Hotels and such have been dealing with more than empty rooms, they’ve been dealing with fear and anxiety, and that’s just the staff working. Travel and stays is focused more on necessity it seems, the fall might not bring much of anyone if things go south again.

If mom will let me out of the basement and away from the slurpee machine…

We need to stop thinking we can work around things and fight the virus. That’s what is closing places. Closing the pier hurts. Missed opportunities in March now reach into the fall.

Comment by Oswego Willy Tuesday, Aug 18, 20 @ 12:56 pm
Its not just the virus that keeping people away from Chicago.

Comment by Blue Dog Dem Tuesday, Aug 18, 20 @ 1:08 pm
=Riva and Shakespeare — I hope they make it. =

I just had an email from CST which says, in part,

“[The Navy Pier closure] does not impact Chicago Shakespeare Theater’s exciting plans to welcome audiences back to the Theater for the return of live, in-person performances as soon as it is safe to do so in early 2021. Navy Pier has committed to partnering with the Theater to ensure a seamless experience for Chicago Shakespeare patrons during the Pier’s shut-down.”

Comment by JoanP Tuesday, Aug 18, 20 @ 1:31 pm
Is there anything in Navy Pier’s “lease” that requires them to operate a minimum number of days a year?

Comment by dr. reason a. goodwin Tuesday, Aug 18, 20 @ 8:31 pm