Standing for Christ: Nini’s Deli

Angie Leventis Lourgos

The business closed temporarily in summer 2020 after its owners and their family members decried LGBTQ rights, abortion, and the Black Lives Matter movement in social media posts — as well as through speeches via loudspeaker outside the restaurant — in the days following the murder of George Floyd by Minnesota police. The establishment reopened over the summer, pledging on social media to “double down on our Christian worldview.”

Now city officials say Nini’s Deli has been cited for violating Chicago’s vaccine mandate, which requires anyone 5 or older to show proof of COVID-19 vaccination to dine indoors, use gyms or attend theaters and various other entertainment venues. The requirement went into effect on Jan. 3.

Juan-Elias Riesco, son of the owners of Nini’s Deli, told the Tribune the city’s vaccine mandate is “unconstitutional and ungodly. We believe people should not fear a virus or tyrannical government overreach; people should fear Jesus Christ and Jesus Christ alone,” he said in a phone interview. “Here at this business, we stand for Jesus Christ, biblical values, and the constitution of this great free country.” One meme the deli posted on its Facebook page recently says, “Follow the Science,” with “science” crossed out and replaced with the word “Jesus. Christians love science as it is the God of the Bible who makes science even possible — in fact, the reason many of us are so sick of today’s “science” is because it is not science at all!” the post said. “Rather, the very things that we are being told to follow in the name of science is nothing more than politicized propaganda. That is why we believe it is important that all people FOLLOW JESUS and not the ‘Science.’”

The deli was ranked the top Chicago restaurant on Yelp’s annual list of the Top 100 Places to Eat in the U.S. for 2020. Some more recent reviews on the site reference politics and pandemic protocols along with the restaurant’s menu and service. “I will forever support this business since they are NOT adhering to the tyrannical totalitarian dictated mandates,” said one five-star review. “Freedom is having faith and not discriminating based on vaccine status. This small business is wholesome and God-fearing ONLY. The way it should be. Stop the madness Chicago! Staff also wasn’t wearing masks which felt very tacky and inappropriate,” said a one-star review. “Not to mention the prideful attitude about it. Something about the whole experience left me feeling like health and sanitation were an afterthought. Plenty of more authentic places to grab empanadas that care about your health/the community.”

The vaccine mandate went into effect amid a surge in COVID-19 cases in the Chicago area, fueled in part by the highly contagious omicron variant. The virus has infected nearly 3 million people and killed more than 31,000 in Illinois so far, according to Illinois Department of Public Health data. A spokeswoman for the city’s Department of Business Affairs and Consumer Protection said the majority of Chicago businesses have been complying with the vaccine mandate and other pandemic protocols. “Businesses have been diligent and committed to adhering to public health guidance during the pandemic,” said spokeswoman Elisa Sledzinska. “We are pleased to see high compliance as we continue to strictly enforce both orders. The enforcement of the vaccine requirement is no different than the mask mandate, previous public health orders, or general operations.”

The deli — recognizable for its bright pink brick wall on the corner of Ohio and Noble streets — drew heated protests in 2020 amid the height of fallout following Floyd’s death; several business partners then cut ties with the restaurant and some employees quit in protest. “You don’t care about other black lives,” José Riesco, the deli owner’s brother, had said over a speaker outside the restaurant in a video posted to the owner’s Instagram. “You only care when it’s good for your worldview when it’s good to help you sin when it’s good to help you promote your wicked agenda of abortion, homosexuality, and trying to take over this nation.” Nini’s Deli owner Juan Riesco had told the Tribune that after the protests his family received death threats.

“People want us to conform to their beliefs, and if you don’t, they’re willing to exterminate you,” he had said in 2020. “All because they don’t believe in our religion and what we stand for. That’s a scary place for our country to be.” The restaurant is among about three dozen establishments that have been cited for violating the vaccine mandate from Jan. 3 to Jan. 30, according to the city. Businesses accused of violating the mandate can be issued two citations for violating both Chicago Department of Public Health and BACP requirements. Violations can lead to a fine of up to $10,000, according to the city code. Miguel Campos, BACP’s supervisor of business compliance investigations, has said that particularly “egregious situations” could subject businesses to closure for one day or potentially longer.