The impact of COVID-19 has bled into businesses in the city. On March 15, Mayor Bill De Blasio made the announcement that all bars, restaurants and entertainment venues will be closed effective March 17, limiting restaurants, cafes, and bars, to take out and delivery. The businesses that are taking a hit to this sudden order are small businesses. “This is not a decision I make lightly. These places are part of the heart and soul of our city. They are part of what it means to be a New Yorker. But our city is facing an unprecedented threat, and we must respond with a wartime mentality,” said Mayor De Blasio.
COVID-19’s outbreak has put many small businesses at economic risk. Black-owned businesses are feeling this setback as well. The experience is not the same when the joy of walking into your favorite local diner is no longer accessible. Not only is business impacted from the point of view of customer experience but the staff and management have to adjust to this new reality.
BLVD Bistro, is one of the local Black-owned restaurants that had to close due to the Coronavirus. “Last night [March 16] we had to close at 8 and we are relying on Grubhub for deliveries,” said manager Markisha Swepson. According to CNBC Grubhub is temporarily suspending commission fees for impacted independent restaurants of up to $100 million. “Independent restaurants are the lifeblood of our cities and feed our communities,” said Grubhub CEO Matt Maloney in a statement. “They have been amazing long-term partners for us, and we wanted to help them in their time of need.”
Management had to work swiftly to think about what is best for their staff and what to do moving forward. “The staff knows it is nothing personal and that it is just the state of the country right now. We sent out information advising for unemployment,” said Swepson. The New York City Department of Small Business Services says it will offer financial assistance to small businesses in the form of grants and loans. The United States Small Business Association is utilizing the Economic Injury Disaster Loan Program that provides small businesses with working capital loans of up to $2 million that can provide vital economic support to small businesses to help overcome the temporary loss of revenue they are experiencing. “I’ve been calm hoping it would pass. I knew business would be affected but I didn’t think we would close. We are doing what we can and being proactive about next steps,” said Swepson.