Hundreds of $250 Gift Cards Hidden Around Chicago, Illinois to Help Celebrate Reopening

Starting the second weekend of June, hundreds of $250 gift cards will be hidden around all 77 of Chicago’s neighborhoods, the city announced.

The city of Chicago will be giving away hundreds of gift cards to celebrate it's reopening401(K) 2012/flickr

The newest initiative from Chicago Mayor Lori Lightfoot is aimed at encouraging people to get back out to local businesses this summer after the long months with the limitations required by the pandemic. To that end, each weekend through July 4, Chicagoans and tourists can find the gift cards scattered around the city.

While announcing the city of Chicago could fully reopen, Lightfoot explained the new initiative Friday as follows:

“These are going to be at businesses and locations in all of our 77 neighborhoods. If you're the one who walks in and says, ‘Open Chicago,’ you will get this $250 gift card that we'll be hiding today through July 4.”

Lightfoot partnered with Raise Marketplace and World Business Chicago to give away the gift cards, which can be used on Raise Marketplace and more than 4,000 shops and restaurants throughout Chicago.

Raise Marketplace sells 30 percent discounted gift cards to use at thousands of stores, gift cards that provides 15 percent back to spend on future purchases, and coupons with promo codes, free shipping and top deals for favorite brands.

World Business Chicago is a public-private partnership between the City and the business community. WBC’s Board of Directors is made up of prominent business and civic leaders who actively guide the progression of Chicago’s business climate. Working in partnership with the City of Chicago, WBC works to make sure that all Chicagoans can prosper and participate in the economic growth of our city. With continuous efforts to nurture Chicago neighborhoods, foster the city’s growing tech and innovation eco-system and remaining a leader in both site selection and foreign direct investment, WBC consistently creates opportunities for economic growth.

Chicago moved to Phase 5 Friday, its final stage of reopening, becoming the largest big city in the U.S. to fully reopen, Lightfoot said.

"Due to the incredible progress we've made in our mission to stop the spread of COVID-19, I am thrilled to announce that we are able to safely transition into Phase 5 and become the first major city in the country to fully reopen," Lightfoot said in a statement. "Our ongoing vaccination efforts, which prioritize equity and inclusion, have made a remarkable difference in our COVID-19 journey and have resulted in the lowest positivity rate since the beginning of the pandemic. This progress, as well as ongoing initiatives such as Open Chicago, have allowed us to safely lift capacity limits and reconnect our residents back to the activities they love the most."

While the phase does mark a full reopening, not all restrictions have been lifted.

According to the governor, entry into Phase 5 means "businesses, large-scale events, conventions, amusement parks, and seated-spectator venues, among others, will be able to operate at full capacity for the first time since the onset of the COVID-19 pandemic."

The state of Illinois also lifted its outdoor mask requirement in schools in line with guidance from the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. However, the following restrictions will remain in place for the time being:

“Illinois will continue to recommend face coverings for unvaccinated persons, as well as all individuals on planes, buses, trains, and other forms of public transportation; in transportation hubs, such as airports and train and bus stations; in congregate facilities such as correctional facilities, veterans’ homes, and long-term care facilities, group homes, and residential facilities; and in healthcare settings.

Businesses and venues should continue to allow for social distancing to the extent possible, especially indoors. Businesses and venues may also continue to put in place additional public health mitigations as they deem appropriate, including requiring face coverings.”

The city of Chicago also announced vaccination incentives as part of its reopening. These include the chance for vaccinated residents to receive one of more than 1,000 single-day Lollapalooza passes being given out through the end of this month.

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