BUFFALO, N.Y. — For months, businesses and business owners have been doing their best to keep revenue flowing after months of being closed due to COVID-19. The restaurant industry is just one example.
Even with doors open here in Western New York, restaurant owners and managers are doing their best to keep business alive despite strict regulations and mandatory guidelines. The reality however is, neither people nor money are coming in like they used to be. Financial assistance is desperately needed.
Jay Manno is the owner of Soho and Frankie Primos on Chippewa Street in Buffalo and says these times are tough and will probably get tougher given the state of things.
"At a place like Soho, on the other hand where it's 50% occupancy, plus the 6 ft. social distancing, my normal occupancy is around four hundred, I'm 80 to 100 people right now."
According to the New York State Restaurant Association, a recent survey based on input from restaurants throughout the state, says 63.6% of restaurants say they are likely or somewhat likely to close by the end of 2020. Of those, nearly 54% say their doors could close as early as November.
Conor Hawkins manages Curtiss Hotel, Skybar and Darcey McGee's, three hot spots in the downtown district. He says, those numbers are pretty spot on. Everyone is struggling and everyone in the industry, in Buffalo and beyond, could benefit from some financial help from the federal government.
Hawkins says one of the biggest challenges is finding ways to compensate for revenue lost due to state mandated rules around curfews and food service.
"Now you have to eat food, so once the kitchen's closed we can't let anybody in. We lose those three hours, from 11:00 p.m. to maybe 3:00 a.m. or so."
As of right now, New York State Restaurant Association members are asking for a relief package to help them keep important resources to keep business open and employees employed.