For others, 'If they're scheduled to work ...'

ELGIN -- While the Bears' first Super Bowl appearance in more than 20 years may provide a nice excuse to give workers free time, some businesses will be hoping for increased patronage come Sunday night.

"It would be great if we got a crowd for the Super Bowl," said local bar and grill owner Lou Gramm. "It would be awesome."

Gramm, who owns the recently opened Elgin Public House, 219 E. Chicago St., said she doesn't expect a big crowd Sunday only because she and co-owner Greg Shannon wanted a "soft opening" before operating at full capacity, so they have not advertised Super Bowl special events.

However, Gramm said, over the past two Sundays patrons have come in for food and drink after Bears games. She encourages them to come in and relax for as long as they want.

"We are definitely a restaurant first," Gramm said. "After 10 we can be a bar."

Other places -- from hospitals to police stations -- will be open for business Sunday regardless of whether anyone is hoping for a busy evening.

"I'm sure there are a lot of Bears fans that want (the night) off, but we work holidays," said Elgin police special patrol Officer Tamara Welter.

Welter explained that officers put in bids for shifts a month beforehand, so they had no way of knowing then that the Bears would be in the Super Bowl this weekend.

She added that there will be no increase in staff for Sunday night, and officers could try to trade shifts if some really want to be able to watch the game.

But in the end, little can be done.

"If they're scheduled to work, they're scheduled to work," Welter said. "You just kind of get used to it."

-- David Gialanella