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 ...
It’s called being prudent, not prejudice
“None of our food comes from China, but that doesn’t matter to diners. I don’t know what motivated the scare.”
Concern about customers/employees (or their relatives/acquaintances) who recently visited China?
The media hysteria is driving this.
Weirdly enough, I’ve heard that it’s the Orientals who are staying away, whereas the round-eyes are showing up as usual, sans mask.
“The media hysteria is driving this. ‘
Yup.
Maybe there’s a Asian Restaurant Association that could sue CNN for libel or racism.
I’ve thought about supporting the local chinese family.
But the Chinese I know gather together with other Chinese. And some of them travel.
If and when this blows over, I might double on Chinese food. Though it’s not great for diabetes. The basic ingredients are healthy but the sauces are killer.
Guess no more exotic foods like bat, rat, dog, cat or human fetus ...
I make all my Chinese dishes at home . EASY , cheaper and I know what is in the dish lol !
How about the Chinese illegal alien employees?
I couldn't say if this restaurant has any, but it is pretty common in the industry.
I need to learn to do that.
Saved some youtube videos on it.
So how do I know the Bat Soup I ordered is actually from American bats and not Chinese bats?
He admitted that other restaurants are also struggling.
Expect this as nobody wants to go and eat out with the rumors that go around about the cleanliness and work habits of many of those in the kitchen.
I don’t need dirty food or someone spitting, or worse, into my food.
I’ll make it myself and get better quality for far less money.
We just went to our favorite Chinese joint. It was empty sans us. Sad.
Cats around the world rejoice.
I never have and never will eat Chinese food.
I am not their target market, so there is no market share change.
The only thing I need to lay my hands on is one of their nuclear powered woks.
“How about the Chinese illegal alien employees?”
Yep, legal and illegal - both are potential threats.
There is such an association in NYC ( or used to be one ), but not sure if there is one in Chicago.
That’s the best post on the board.
How do i know who’s working in a chinese restaurant on staten island with half a million people here?
It’s not like we all know each other by the first name.
There are dozens of workers in chinese places here.
The simple truth is though Very Remote, the possibility exists that they got here somehow illegally and within the past month. Or more. No one knows exactly how long a person can spread this thing.
They don’t know a whole lot 100 percent yet.
Boy you just cost my local Chinese restaurants my business for about a year!!
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