How are small local restaurants and cafes going to survive the winter? (Penn: neighborhood, inspections)

[BUILD PENN SQUARE]

this is where the local news cycle has the potential to turn straight-up tragic in the next few months

for example, my favorite watering hole in shadyside (which also happens to be the mayor's favorite) has managed to make it through the summer by adding extra tables outside (thank goodness for the great weather we had), and by signing up with delivery services

the owner explained to me a few weeks ago the increase to 50% capacity didn't help him any because his dining area is so small that with the six-foot rule in place he really couldn't legally have more than like 12-15 customers in his place at a time

all the old guaranteed money-makers, karaoke night, trivia night, football and hockey games don't work anymore because of the you-must-buy-food-when-consuming-alcohol rule and the you-can't-sit-at-the-bar rule and the three drink maximum rule and the capacity rule

and with outdoor dining about to be eliminated by cold weather (unless the place has its own patio with a tent and heaters), i just don't see how most small local restaurants and cafes are going to make it through the winter, and i'm not even talking about places that only served drinks which are really in a bad way

i'm not gonna get emotionally worked up if a big restaurant group owned by someone i've never met has to close, but if a small cafe or restaurant owned by someone i consider a friend has to close - that's gonna be tough to take, for me, for the neighborhood and for the owner's family

[erieguy]

Unless restrictions are lifted, many won’t survive, and they’ll simply be replaced by something else when restrictions are lifted.

[Knepper3]

Yes, it is a shame for the current people who will not survive but my hope is they get replaces by something better. I think those businesses that have been well run for some time (IE making profit which is set aside) will make it through but those newer startups just won't be able to.

[Copanut]

My guess is many of the great Mom & Pop places won't survive during the winter if the shutdown continues. I will continue to frequent as many as I can along with getting takeout, but for sure some won't make it. Sad to see.

[erieguy]

The longer the shutdown continues, it will make way for more chains/big business to move in when others are forced to move out.

[svband76]

I dined indoors one of fav places, Mintt this past weekend. But their takeout is booming. Other non-takeout type places are hurting bad, mostly those which depend on alcohol sales.

[gg]

Shame we have such lousy leadership. Peduto is too busy worrying about the Columbus statue and hair styles to be bothered with helping solve real issues. Them you have dictator wolf running our area like it is philly. PA is toast with who we have.

[BUILD PENN SQUARE]

you know that line in the new testament "live by the sword, die by the sword" (matthew 26:52)

the modern version should be - play by the rules, die by the rules

Originally Posted by erieguy

they’ll simply be replaced by something else when restrictions are lifted.

who in their right mind would ever borrow money to start a business and get all the necessary permits and inspections, knowing in the back of their mind the state could reinstate the existing restrictions or create new restrictions and shut it down at any time - that's why businesses that are forced to close will not be replaced

[erieguy]

Originally Posted by BUILD PENN SQUARE

you know that line in the new testament "live by the sword, die by the sword" (matthew 26:52)

the modern version should be - play by the rules, die by the rules



who in their right mind would ever borrow money to start a business and get all the necessary permits and inspections, knowing in the back of their mind the state could reinstate the existing restrictions or create new restrictions and shut it down at any time - that's why businesses that are forced to close will not be replaced

You obviously missed the part “when restrictions are lifted”....but chains and big businesses that will likely replace many of the failed establishments don’t have to borrow money.

[BUILD PENN SQUARE]

Originally Posted by erieguy

You obviously missed the part “when restrictions are lifted”....but chains and big businesses that will likely replace many of the failed establishments don’t have to borrow money.

so "when restrictions are lifted" that's an absolute guarantee they won't be reinstated? if it happened once, it can happen again

and it's preposterous to believe a national chain is gonna have any interest in a tiny neighborhood cafe or restaurant with no parking and no drive-thru