Posted on 03/02/2020 6:27:54 PM PST by Coleus
Even the Big Apple’s most beloved Chinese restaurants are in critical condition as the coronavirus keeps customers at bay.
Restaurant owners, the people who work for them and city lawmakers say business at Chinese-owned establishments has plummeted by as much as 60 percent as the global pandemic spreads. Some restaurants in Queens have closed, possibly for good, sources said.
“It’s been terrible for business,” said Thomas Lo, a co-owner of Spy C Cuisine of Forest Hills, Queens, which opened in 2018 and garnered a coveted spot in this year’s Michelin Guide. “We’ve had a steady increase in business since we opened, and then coronavirus hit,” said Lo, who is an anesthesiologist by day and a chef by night.
“None of our food comes from China, but that doesn’t matter to diners. I don’t know what motivated the scare. A lot of it is misinformation,” said Lo, who says business at Spy C is down more than 50 percent from a month ago.
“It’s killed a lot of restaurants and others are just getting by, trying to survive. “A lot of the large Chinese restaurants in Flushing are now closed — for renovations, they say, but it’s unlikely they’ll reopen,” said Lo. “Chinatown was also really hit. It’s a lot slower. All you have to do is walk around to notice it.”
Councilmember Peter Koo of Queens has called on Mayor Bill de Blasio to offer a helping hand in light of Hizzoner’s recent vow to “provide small businesses the support they need to survive.”
“The city should do something like lower taxes,” Koo said. “Some restaurants have even closed. They have no business and even the ones that are open have more staff than diners. These are big spaces with huge overhead.”
(Excerpt) Read more at nypost.com ...
[We just went to our favorite Chinese joint. It was empty sans us. Sad.]
Mini Mike’s comments last night about Chinese restaurants was very irresponsible and probably damaged the industry. He really isn’t very bright.
A lot of cooks in Chinese restaurants are directly from the other side. I can see their concern.
Decades ago I worked in restaurant kitchens. Recall one very industrious Chinese fella who was saving to go back to China and live like a king. He was making side money sneaking in countrymen and laundering their identities through kitchen work.
I can hurt them even more - gonna start a rumor that MSG is being used to weaponize coronavirus...
Nobody wants an unhappy ending
Normally packed.
>LOL!!
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