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.