Restaurant association asks for lighter mitigations Samantha McDaniel-Ogletree FacebookTwitterEmail The Illinois Restaurant Association is urging the state and Gov. J.B. Pritzker to open up regulations to allow for limited, safe indoor dining operations in an attempt to avoid permanent shut downs of local restaurants. The association has launched its “Indoor Dining. Save Illinois Restaurants!” campaign to give a place for restaurant owners and employees to voice concerns and ideas with state leaders, including concerns for job loss, closures and increasing debt. According to the association, 1 in 5 hospitality jobs have been lost since February and estimates that 5,000 or more restaurants will close permanently – eliminating 120,000 or more jobs if things do not change and businesses are allowed to reopen.