Chicago Public Schools were closed on Thursday as the Chicago Teachers Union went on strike. The CTU is protesting salaries, class sizes, and other labor issues. The union also wants nurses, social workers, and librarians at all schools. The strike is affecting more than 300,000 students and 32,000 educators.
While some restaurants prefer to stay neutral when it comes to posting flyers, social media messages, or any other signs of support for the union, other restaurants are offering discounts and sending out news releases. It’s hard to tell if this is pandering or genuine empathy for strikers, but it makes little difference if the discounts are real. Here are some of the deals Chicago restaurants are offering union members and CPS parents.
Feel free to email chicago@eater.com with tips about other discounts. This list will be updated periodically, come back for any new restaurants added.
4 Star Restaurant Group (D.O.C. Wine Bar, Frasca, Ella Elli, Remington’s, Smoke Daddy Wrigleyville/Wicker Park, Tuco and Blondie, The Windsor, Crosby’s Kitchen). Deals valid through the strike for teachers and support staff.
- $1 rosé, limit one per person.
- Kids eat free until 6 p.m.
Roots Handmade Pizza (Old Town, Lincoln Square, West Town). Deals for CPS teachers and parents with children at the restaurant. Valid ID required.
- 20-percent discount on all regularly priced food and drink for the strike’s duration.
West Town Bakery (West Town, Wrigleyville, River North)
- One free cake ball per child (with other purchase) with CPS parents for the strike’s duration.
- 20-percent off for teachers with IDs for duration of strike.
Pioneer Tavern Group (Frontier, Ina Mae Tavern & Packaged Goods)
- 15-percent discount on all dine-in food purchases for teachers with valid IDs. Offer can’t be mixed with other discounts.
Coalfire (Lakeview, West Town)
- Customary 15-percent teacher discount rises to 25 percent for the strike.
Antique Taco (Wicker Park, Bridgeport, Revival Food Hall)
- 30-percent discount for teachers with valid IDs.
- “Discounted tab” for teachers on Thursday and Friday.
Farm Bar (Edgewater), Farmhouse (Lakeview, River North)
- 20-percent discount for teachers and staff during the strike.
- 25-percent discount off meals for teachers and staffers with valid IDs.
Steingold’s of Chicago (Lincoln Square, Fulton Galley)
- 15-percent discount off all purchases for teachers for the duration of the strike.
- 25-percent discount for teachers with ID for the duration of the strike.
Big Star (Wicker Park, Wrigleyville)
- 20-percent discount for all teachers for the duration of the strike, according to a rep.
- 40-percent discount for teachers for the strike’s duration.
- Free doughnut to any student out of school on Thursday.
- 20-percent discount for teachers or staff.
- Offering 30-percent discount for teachers for the duration of the strike.
- Free popsicle for teachers.
Tecalitlan Mexican Restaurant (West Town)
- 25-percent discount for teachers with valid ID.
- 15-percent discount for teachers and staff.
- Free juice to students and teachers.
Si- Pie Pizzeria (Both locations)
- 30-percent discount for teachers and staff.
- 20-percent discount for teachers with IDs during the strike.
- 15-percent discount from 3 p.m. to 6 p.m. on Fridays for happy hour.
- 15-percent discount for educators during the strike.
RealGood Stuff (all locations)
- 30-percent discount for teachers with ID until the strike’s end.
- 20-percent discount on all dine-in food purchases for teachers and staff during the strike with valid ID.
- One free tamal per student with purchase.
- 20-percent discount for teachers and students with valid ID for the duration of the strike.
- 50-discount for all CPS teachers and employees for the duration of the strike.
- 20-percent discount for all CPS employees (even after the strike).
- 50-percent discount for the duration of the strike with valid ID. After the strike, 40-percent off on Mondays.
Chicago Diner (Logan Square and Boystown locations)
- 25-percent discount for teachers and staff for strike’s duration.
- 10-percent discount for CPS teachers with valid ID.
- 25-percent discount for CPS teachers.
- 10-percent discount for teachers, even after the strike.
Furious Spoon (all locations)
- Free ramen for teachers before 5 p.m. during the strike.
- 10-percent discount for teachers during the strike with valid ID.