17 votes

Restaurants can't survive COVID-19 without a bailout

13 comments

  1. EscReality
    Link
    We were required to shut down as of 10pm last night, the majority of our staff lives paycheck to paycheck. Luckily my owner is a pretty amazing guy, he is offering a free meal a day to every...

    We were required to shut down as of 10pm last night, the majority of our staff lives paycheck to paycheck. Luckily my owner is a pretty amazing guy, he is offering a free meal a day to every employee for the foreseeable future.

    While some restaurants might be fine, there will be a lot that simply go out of business.

    13 votes
  2. Grawlix
    Link
    There's a board game cafe near me, and they had to pivot their business hard due to social distancing. No more paying for table space, but they still sell board-games and to-go items from the...

    There's a board game cafe near me, and they had to pivot their business hard due to social distancing. No more paying for table space, but they still sell board-games and to-go items from the cafe.

    On that note, I think it's going to hit game shops hard. They already have to compete with online prices, their selling point is often offering a space to play in, and they can't offer that play space during a pandemic.

    10 votes
  3. [3]
    jcdl
    Link
    My sisters run a small 20 seat restaurant together, and have cut their staff down to zero except themselves. They managed to cover their costs last night just doing takeout. Their landlord has...

    My sisters run a small 20 seat restaurant together, and have cut their staff down to zero except themselves. They managed to cover their costs last night just doing takeout. Their landlord has reduced their rent by 35%. This should be easily sustainable as long as their suppliers stay afloat and they can at least do takeout. Notably this situation eliminates alcohol sales, which is a big line item.

    Hopefully UberEats stays up.

    NB: This is in Canada where we're not under mandatory quarantine.

    9 votes
    1. [2]
      EscReality
      Link Parent
      Uber, Lyft and Public Transportation is shut down in my state.

      Hopefully UberEats stays up.

      Uber, Lyft and Public Transportation is shut down in my state.

      4 votes
      1. jcdl
        Link Parent
        Heard from them today that Uber drivers have been wearing masks and gloves, which is nice to see.

        Heard from them today that Uber drivers have been wearing masks and gloves, which is nice to see.

        1 vote
  4. [2]
    Deimos
    Link
    The US National Restaurant Association sent a letter (PDF) to the government today requesting several hundred billion dollars in assistance along with various other measures. Their prediction:

    The US National Restaurant Association sent a letter (PDF) to the government today requesting several hundred billion dollars in assistance along with various other measures. Their prediction:

    Economically, we are anticipating sales to decline by $225 billion during the next three months, which will prompt the loss of between five and seven million jobs.

    5 votes
    1. EscReality
      Link Parent
      I saw that, Trump actually tweeted that the industry can expect money coming our way (for whatever that's worth, not much obviously). I am very interested to see if he follows through with it....

      I saw that, Trump actually tweeted that the industry can expect money coming our way (for whatever that's worth, not much obviously). I am very interested to see if he follows through with it.

      Either way I think the US is heading towards a recession as bad as 2008 and I think it's going to create major changes in my industry.

      6 votes
  5. bleem
    Link
    mcconnell is actually being a human now and is doing a second stimulas. Every tax payer will get a variable amount based on income and household. If you are a trump supporter you should be like, i...

    mcconnell is actually being a human now and is doing a second stimulas. Every tax payer will get a variable amount based on income and household. If you are a trump supporter you should be like, i don't need a handout and this is socialism.

    edit: i hate the entire whole republican propaganda against socialism even though them farmers sure got some.

    5 votes
  6. [5]
    teaearlgraycold
    Link
    Until they're required to close even delivery services, I suppose that businesses that normally do most of their business through delivery (ex: pizza) are going to do very well.

    Until they're required to close even delivery services, I suppose that businesses that normally do most of their business through delivery (ex: pizza) are going to do very well.

    1. [4]
      AugustusFerdinand
      Link Parent
      Even they aren't doing so well (from an owner friend that has a delivery only restaurant), people that aren't in the food service industry are losing their jobs, pay, or worried about such. People...

      I suppose that businesses that normally do most of their business through delivery (ex: pizza) are going to do very well.

      Even they aren't doing so well (from an owner friend that has a delivery only restaurant), people that aren't in the food service industry are losing their jobs, pay, or worried about such. People aren't just not going out to dinner, they are saving for the worst and eating out/delivery is a luxury.

      4 votes
      1. [3]
        Autoxidation
        Link Parent
        I don't trust a business paying employees barely over minimum wage to perform proper sanitation practices or discourage sick workers, who most likely don't have paid leave or real benefits, from...

        I don't trust a business paying employees barely over minimum wage to perform proper sanitation practices or discourage sick workers, who most likely don't have paid leave or real benefits, from creating food. It's really a better-safe-than-sorry approach.

        7 votes
        1. [2]
          AugustusFerdinand
          Link Parent
          So you never go to a restaurant or order take-out then? As none of those things change any other time than now.

          So you never go to a restaurant or order take-out then? As none of those things change any other time than now.

          1. Autoxidation
            Link Parent
            Under normal circumstances, we go out to eat a couple times a month. But even then, I could pick up the common cold from any myriad of interactions throughout the day. Most people view that as an...

            Under normal circumstances, we go out to eat a couple times a month. But even then, I could pick up the common cold from any myriad of interactions throughout the day. Most people view that as an acceptable risk under normal circumstances.

            During this? No way.

            3 votes