Chicago Business Licensing Regulations Cause Popular Shared Kitchen to Close

Zina Murray, owner of Logan Square Kitchen, announced on her website that the local shared kitchen will be forced to close due to the ‘regulatory burdens’ imposed by Chicago’s business licensing laws.

When Murray first launched her new business, she was forced to be inspected anew for each business that joined her kitchen. This resulted in 11 inspections in a nine month period. Although, Logan Square Kitchen passed the inspection each time, old food licensing regulations still called for the constant updated inspections.

After Murray complained about these inspections, the City's Department of Public Health acknowledged that the inspections were excessive and a result of old city codes that changed late last year. They then changed the licensing regulations to limit the inspections.

But, as Murray posted on her website, the shared kitchen’s troubles didn’t end there. "When our licensing difficulties ceased, they were just beginning for our clients. Before the “helpful” Shared Kitchen Ordinance that took effect Sept. 1, 2011, we got clients licensed in a week or two. Of course, we had to be inspected by Health each time. Now, ... the inspections have stopped, but it takes 1-3 months and multiple trips to City Hall.”

It is ironic that Mayor Rahm Emanuel chose Logan Square Kitchen as the place for his announcement of the city’s new streamlining of business licenses in April. Murray says that the streamlining does not in any way help her shared kitchen and that it is the licensing regulations that have forced to close her business.

It is unfortunate that a good business idea should be allowed to fail because of business licensing issues. But, as Chicago Tribune reports, “Murray characterizes her business' demise as unavoidable within the city's current business licensing framework.”

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