Andy Wiederhorn, CEO of Fat Brands, outlines how restaurants might stay afloat as temperatures drop.
As autumn soon arrives, a coalition of New York City restaurants is calling on state and local officials to devise a plan to restore indoor dining during the COVID-19 pandemic.
At a virtual news conference on Wednesday, the New York City Hospitality Alliance – which represents thousands of restaurants, bars and clubs – spoke out and called for action by Democratic Gov. Andrew Cuomo and Mayor Bill de Blasio.
According to a report by Wednesday in Gothamist, indoor dining with 50% capacity has been allowed elsewhere in New York State since June, but not in the Big Apple – the last part of New York to rebuild.
STRUGGLING RESTAURANT OWNERS HOSED AFTER NYC CRIPPLES OUTDOOR DINING
On Tuesday, the Blasio reiterated that the “most important thing … is to get to the point where we have a fax and then we can really come back.”
But when exactly a vaccine for coronavirus would be made available – if that is the case – is unclear. While some say the chance is winter, others predict it will not happen by 2021.
Andrew Cuomo, of New York, said Monday he was “personally disappointed” in the state’s utilities and that New Yorkers are “enough” with them. (AP photo / Mark Lennihan, file)
A spokesman for the mayor later explained that a vaccine is not “a definite requirement for food inside,”
Meanwhile, one-third of the city’s small businesses have already closed, including many of its 27,000 restaurants.
In addition, the city reported just the lowest number of infections since the pandemic began in March.
On Wednesday, Cuomo told reporters during his own news conference that the decision is ultimately up to him.
“New York City does not decide when the restaurants in New York City open,” he said. “Nassau does not decide when the Nassau restaurants will open. The worst thing we can do now is cause confusion for people with different politicians who say different things.”
Cuomo also noted the difference between the city’s demographics and population, adding that today “there is a much bigger problem in New York City than any of the surrounding suburbs with a lack of compliance.”
According to an analysis by Gothamist, more than 100 establishments in New York City have suspended their liquor rights in the past month for violating the state’s COVID-19 guidelines, with nearly half of them being suspended for indoor dining.
“Restaurants in the rest of the state have met the same standards as restaurants in New York City, and they have been opening and operating inside for months now, with a reduced occupancy,” said NYC Hospitality Alliance executive director Andrew Rigie in New York. York on Crain. “There’s no reason we’re presented with why restaurants in New York City are different.”
Rigie, who attended Wednesday’s Zoom conference, also stressed that the sector’s survival depends on restarting dining – noting that outdoor dining “was never meant to be a solution to save our restaurants. “
Outdoor dining also has an expiration date of October 31, as temperatures drop in the 50-degree range.
Rigie explained that although the alliance wants to work with officials to come up with a plan, legal action would probably be their next step.
On Tuesday, Cuomo announced a blueprint for gyms to reopen after thousands of owners filed a lawsuit for class action.
“I’ve heard from business owners around town that they want to go to court,” Rigie said. “This is our attempt to get an ASAP plan for reopening from within. And we’ll see what happens next steps.”
While it is difficult to try to predict how many customers will want to dine out later in the year or if New Yorkers are willing to participate in indoor dining, restaurant owners have cause for concern.
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A survey by the New York City Hospitality Alliance found that 83 percent of 471 bars and restaurants in July did not pay full rent and 37 percent paid no rent at all.
However, there is some hope for help.
Democratic Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer supported the Restaurants Act last week, deepening support for a $ 120 billion biennial subsidy program for independent restaurants.
