The return of Cubs fans is a glimmer of hope after gut-wrenching year in Wrigleyville – The Athletic

Erik Baylis sometimes sat alone in The Irish Oak after cleaning an empty kitchen or cooking a burger for himself. The Clark Street bar is usually filled with energy, close enough to Wrigley Field to hear the crack of the bat and the roar from the crowd during Cubs games. That made the place feel even more empty.

The missing parts have defined the COVID-19 pandemic. There are the absences felt after the deaths of more than 546,000 people in the United States, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. Millions of American workers have filed for unemployment benefits. Remote learning became a new reality for teachers and students across the country. Think of all the milestone events like graduation ceremonies and weddings that were disrupted within the last year. Simple pleasures, like sipping a freshly poured Guinness, vanished.

There was nothing you could do, Baylis, the president/owner of Big Onion Hospitality, said.

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The return of Cubs fans is a glimmer of hope after gut-wrenching year in Wrigleyville - The Athletic