Entering Phase 1 and the Future.

THE CITY REOPENS: OPTIMISM ABOUNDS

As I walked around Brooklyn today and took in the long lines at City MD for antibody testing I guess, I was hit with the familiar sights and sounds of city commerce.  Construction people in their fluorescent fatigues were keeping the bodegas busy, crowds formed around the good taco trucks, shoppers, exercisers and guys on the corner were all out and about and in better spirits. The opening act of The Return of NYC  and it felt good.

While optimism floats in the air, we have to ask how and when those good vibes will translate into business for the industry.  When will the bars and restaurants and caterers and nightclubs start to feel the effect of returning customers? We are trying to handicap it and this is our best guess:

Phase 2 – Scheduled for June 22nd – Open Streets with outdoor seating should take effect between then and July 2nd so we can get it going before the July 4th Weekend.

Phase 3 – Mid- late July – If things go well in Phases 1 and 2 and there are no significant bug spikes, Phase 3 should happen by the end of July with expected reduced capacity and distancing protocols in effect.  If all goes well, we would expect reduced capacity to ramp up slowly in the following months and then, in the best case scenario, we get to full speed in the first quarter of 2021.

If you want an in-depth look into what reopening look likes, read this article in the LA Times from Jenn Harris about how Faith & Flower in Downtown LA tackled the opening process.  She takes you through the kitchen, FOH, the tableside experience and “landling zones”.  It’s great reporting and you will appreciate reading it.  https://www.latimes.com/food/story/2020-06-08/restaurant-re-open-dining-room-brunch


PPP Webinar Alert:  Monday, 6/15 @3:00 PM. 
“The New Look PPP: what we know, and what we don’t…yet”

You can register here: https://bit.ly/HLPPPpublic 


Newsletter Note

Now that we have entered Phase 1 and we are past the havoc and mayhem of the first 100 days, we are going to cut back the frequency of the newsletter and we will publish once per week on Thursdays.  While the volume and urgency of the news to report to you has slowed down, important events will continue to occur.  If news breaks that you need to know, we will send out bulletins or alerts or whatever else they call those informational, unscheduled emails. We will keep distilling the need to know news and you won’t miss a thing so please don’t worry. 

We will continue our daily work as chair, board member, consigliere and counsel to the Three Families (Alliance, Coalition and ROAR) and we will be in the thick of the fight and right out in front of the issues as we have been from the start.  We will continue to yell and scream and clamor and cajole to get it done.

And, as always, if you have something to say and want to speak to your hospitality colleagues and the public, email me and let me know what you have in mind and we will find a place for your voice.


Good night,
David