Upper West Side Restaurants Brace For Coronavirus Closure

UPPER WEST SIDE, MANHATTAN — Exactly what a coronavirus-led shutdown of tri-state area businesses will mean for the Upper West Side's bustling restaurant industry was still unclear, even with hours to go before eateries closed up shop Monday evening.

"We're getting updates pretty much on an hourly basis," Anastasia Trinh, a manager at Maison Pickle on Broadway told Patch. "We're focusing on being able to do what we can."

The shutdown — first announced for New York City by Mayor Bill de Blasio on Sunday and followed by a statewide mandate by Gov. Andrew Cuomo Monday — will force all bars, restaurants, casinos, movie theaters and gyms to close up shop by 8 p.m. until the governor deems them safe to reopen.

Restaurants will still be allowed to offer takeout and delivery.

Some eateries in New York City, like the Upper West Side's Cafe Luxembourg, had already closed down anticipating precautions to stop the spread of the coronavirus.

But for others, the announcement meant figuring out quickly how to run business during the indefinite closure, and making sure it would stay steady enough so they could survive.

"If anyone tells you they're not worried, they're lying," Emmanuel Kavalos, general manager at Kefi on West 79th Street said.

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Both Trinh and Kavalos said the coronavirus pandemic, which climbed to nearly 500 cases as of Monday, had already started to slow down business.

And, whether the businesses would go under was only compounded by the worry for restaurant workers who would lose their income as the eateries cut back on staff.

Kefi already had to cut their staff in half and will likely have to let all workers go if deliveries and takeout orders don't keep rolling in, Kavalos said.

"It hurts me to have done that," he said. "That's one of the more devastating things because they did nothing wrong. It's just the present situation."

Trinh said Maison Pickle, like similar Uptown spots, were waiting for information about possible government assistance for employees that won't be able to work during the shutdown.

At Kefi, Kavalos will offer 25 percent off pick-up and 15 percent off deliveries to spur business and also help out those who might be struggling financially during the pandemic.

Trinh said customers could help support restaurants, and all local businesses, by continuing ordering takeout and delivery, buying gift cards to use later on and, eventually, rejoining them when the closure is lifted.

"In general, once we're past this, customers should make sure they come say hello and join us again," she said.