Raleigh, N.C. – Many restaurant and bar owners will not celebrate New Year’s Eve on Thursday night.
“This New Year’s Eve will be very different. Yes, Certainly. It’s very different than any other year we’ve ever had, “said Chris Powers, co-owner of Trophy Brewing, which has three sites at the rally.
A boon for business in general, the 10 a.m. curfew in North Carolina and restrictions on gatherings during the coronavirus epidemic have removed most of the party’s plans for the downtown rally and elsewhere.
“The supernatural thing for all of us in the restaurant business is that we’re going home at midnight.” “I’ve been in the restaurant business here in Raleigh for 20-plus years, and I’ve never been home at midnight on New Year’s Eve.”
Some restaurateur rent owners estimate that business could be halved – or more, than last year.
“We’ll be lucky to do that, but we’re shooting for it,” Powers said of getting 50 percent in New Year’s Eve sales.
Trophy Brewing offers people take-out food and drink deals to celebrate at home, Power said, adding that he appreciated the drink.AgainBorder customers have done.
“Instead of welcoming people to our restaurant, we are preparing them to come Their “Own events at home,” he said.
Anthony DeMarco, co-owner of Dimona Pizzeria & Dili in Glenwood South District, said his restaurant also counts on pre-order.
“We need more than right now, especially on New Year’s Eve,” DeMarco said. “We look forward to a great night for delivery. Hopefully, many more [are] At home. Hopefully, they don’t mind cooking. “
Still, he expects business to grow by about 40 percent last year.
December 31 is traditionally a bustling day at the Downtown Rally, as event coordinators and professionals plan the arrival of large numbers of people. In previous years, more than 40,000 people came out at midnight to watch the iconic acorn dropp and then the fireworks.
On Thursday, however, the streets of downtown Raleigh were quiet and fairly empty.
“There are challenges ahead,” said Kathleen Lewis, vice president of engagement and business development for the Downtown Raleigh Alliance.
The Booster organization has posted an online list of ways people can celebrate the New Year with local businesses.
“We encourage people to continue to have local support. That’s very important,” Lewis said. “We want to see our businesses build it in the next few months. We know that will happen in the next few months. Really Challenging. “
DeMarco said 2021 could only get better.
“[We’ll] Wake up tomorrow and hope for a good year. “That’s all we can do,” he said.
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