As New York City approaches the one-year anniversary of its first indoor dining shutdown, restaurants and bars continue to close their doors. At least 1,000 have closed since March due to the economic downturn caused by the coronavirus pandemic. Among them are newer neighborhood favorites like Uncle Boons and MeMe’s diner, along with decades-old institutions including 21 Club, Fedora, and Frank’s Cocktail Lounge.
In all likelihood, the list of permanent closures will only continue to grow in New York, as rent payments continue to mount and restaurants attempt to weather the upcoming months on takeout, delivery, and limited indoor dining. In September, a survey from the New York State Restaurant Association predicted that as many as two-thirds of the state’s restaurants could permanently close by the end of that year if they did not receive additional government aid. Due to the difficulty of tracking restaurant and bar closings right now, experts say that number could be even
of eulogizing the past 12 months. In 2020’s final days, Eater NY will be posting questions about New York City’s restaurant scene in the past year, with answers from food writers, photographers, chefs, restaurateurs, entrepreneurs, and even a few local legislators who helped to support the industry through this enormously difficult year. Now, we ask: What was 2020’s saddest restaurant closure?
Eric Adams, Brooklyn Borough President: There are too many to count.
Clay Williams, food photographer and co-founder of
Black Food Folks: Honestly, I’ve tried not to keep an eye on the ongoing list of closures, it’s all too terrible. But, hearing about The 21 Club, Blue Smoke, and Franklin Park, just this month has been pretty awful. They all have particular places in my personal history as a diner and in covering the industry. It’s hard to imagine this city if they hadn’t been there, or what could possibly take their places.