- Credibility:
WEST TOWN — A pair of neighboring restaurants will shut their doors for one day this month to offer free coronavirus vaccinations.
West Town Bakery, 1916 W. Chicago Ave., and Roots Handmade Pizza, 1924 W. Chicago Ave., will close 8:30 a.m.-3:30 p.m. May 18 so health care workers can administer 1,000 Pfizer vaccines for free, regardless of a person’s insurance or immigration status.
The restaurants are teaming up with Humboldt Park Health, Casa Central and Chicago Vaccine Angels to provide the vaccines. Follow-up appointments for second doses will be coordinated.
Registration is preferred but walk-ins are welcome. Sign up online.
The Fifty/50 Group owns its namesake sports bar, West Town Bakery, multiple Roots Handmade Pizza locations and Utopian Tailgate.
While the May 18 vaccinations are open to anyone who needs it, the group mandated all its employees receive the vaccination. New employees have a grace period to receive the vaccine after joining the company. Some employees, such as nursing and expectant mothers, are exempt.
“We provide incentives as well as periods of paid time off for anyone getting a vaccine or feeling the mild after-effects,” the group wrote on its website. “Having our entire staff vaccinated will make our restaurants safer for all of our employees, our guests, and it is socially responsible for society.”
Neighbors Scott Weiner and Greg Mohr founded Fifty/50 in 2008. The restaurant group gave away meals to people affected by the crisis and donated to COVID-19 relief efforts.
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