09/21/2020
**UPDATED 9.21.20 8:58 PM**
A message to the Schaumburg community:
As you may be aware, peaceful protests have been held by opposing political groups near or in front of the Bar Louie Schaumburg location for several weeks. The fact that there have been no incidents prior to this past Sunday is a testament to the integrity of the individuals on all sides and a positive reflection of this amazing community. Serving our community is what we do – and we have welcomed the opportunity to provide food, drinks and even bathrooms to these opposing groups and will continue to do so in the future.
This past Sunday, the protest gathering was larger than it had been in prior weeks. Out of an abundance of caution for the safety of all of our Guests, our Team Members and our Community – we temporarily closed our doors until the owner of this location and local authorities arrived to better assess the situation. While we were in the process of closing our doors, additional Guests including some protestors were denied entry into our location, and two of our Team Members made comments there were not consistent with Bar Louie’s core values. The situation was not handled in an ideal manner, and after an internal review of the situation, these two team members have received disciplinary action.
Bar Louie values all people, and this situation has given use the opportunity to coach, train and reinforce behaviors that are consistent with serving our community. We welcome the many voices and viewpoints of the Schaumburg community within our Gastrobar and thank you for your patience as we did our due diligence in addressing this circumstance.
To Our Schaumburg Community:
We are committed to serving our communities and listening to the diverse voices of our Team Members, Guests, and neighborhoods. We are known for welcoming all people regardless of race, ethnicity, religion, profession, sexual orientation or political beliefs. We strive to always provide a safe environment where our Guests can gather together and enjoy our chef-inspired food and handcrafted cocktails. We partner with our community leaders and law enforcement agencies to ensure a safe environment for all and in doing so, we will continue to serve all of our Guests safely with empathy and integrity.