I m not interested.
Why are more people taking the plunge and launching ventures during a global pandemic? Experts aren’t sure. “It’s a significant increase,” said Mark Herbert, vice president in California for Small Business Majority, a national organization advocating for small businesses. “It’s something we’ve been tracking and we have more questions than answers at this point.”
Herbert said one possibility is that people whose businesses shut down for good during the crisis might be trying to start over. More than 19,000 businesses closed permanently statewide since March, according to a September Yelp analysis. Others, Herbert said, might be trying to make extra money after a pandemic-related layoff.
Need a fresh start this January? Check out these new Bay Area vegan restaurants. [SFGate, San Francisco]
Jan. 2 It’s been a long holiday season of boozy hot chocolate, gingerbread cookies and thick slices of ham, and maybe you’re feeling like it’s time for a fresh start. Ever heard of Vegan January? (We tried it last year, if you’re curious about what it’s like.) Well, you don’t have to commit to a whole month of eating a plant-based diet, but if you’re interested in seeing what meatless and dairy-free options the Bay Area has to offer, we’ve got a few ideas. And bonus: A lot of it resembles your favorite junk food.
Need a fresh start this January? Check out these new Bay Area vegan restaurants.
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Lion Dance Cafe s shaobing sandwich, consisting of vegan char siu, pickled cucumbers, cilantro with sesame cream and sambal belacan.Douglas Zimmerman/SFGATE
It s been a long holiday season of boozy hot chocolate, gingerbread cookies and thick slices of ham, and maybe you re feeling like it s time for a fresh start. Ever heard of Vegan January? (We tried it last year, if you re curious about what it s like.) Well, you don t have to commit to a whole month of eating a plant-based diet, but if you re interested in seeing what meatless and dairy-free options the Bay Area has to offer, we ve got a few ideas. And bonus: A lot of it resembles your favorite junk food.
pickup at Jingletown Eats, 2353 E 12th St., Oakland
When Dan Zhao was a kid growing up in Los Angeles County, his father Keguang Zhao, a professional chef, never wanted him to follow the same career path. Now, the two are in Oakland running a restaurant together Cozy Wok, a Chinese vegetarian takeout spot in Jingletown.
By the time Dan, now 31, approached his father earlier this year with the idea to open up a restaurant, Keguang, 59, was ready. He’d been working as a professional chef since 1979. But when the pandemic hit, he was laid off from his restaurant job in Los Angeles, prompting his son to suggest going into business together. “He was excited about this idea from the beginning,” Dan said. “Since he started working on this project, it’s given him a lot more purpose in life.”