NYC Restaurateurs to Demand Industry Relief at Times Square Rally

Restaurateurs rally in Times Square

As NYC’s second indoor dining shutdown goes into effect — with more restrictions potentially on the way — city restaurateurs are gathering in Times Square today to demand more support for the industry’s survival from city and state legislature.

At 11 a.m., the New York State Latino Restaurant, Bar, and Lounge Association is hosting a restaurant rally in Times Square followed by a march down to Gov. Andrew Cuomo’s office in Murray Hill. “We are rallying for rent relief, PPP, grants, local and state funding programs, insurance relief, and help from our local leaders,” the group said in a statement. Participating restaurants will also “go dark” on Instagram today to show support for the rally.

This is not the first time that NYC restaurateurs have protested the city’s lack of aid and handling of restaurant regulations, which are often mandated with little warning ahead of time and have been constantly shifting throughout the pandemic as COVID-19 cases rise and fall. Some restaurateurs saw a small amount of federal aid through the Paycheck Protection Program earlier this year to help offset revenue losses due to the pandemic, but for many, the funds ran out within a couple of months, while other small business owners say they were completely shut out of the program. Congress has yet to pass a second federal stimulus bill.

In other news

— Carbone’s pricey winterized outdoor dining setup was modeled to look exactly like the inside of the famed Italian restaurant.

— Chef Eric Ripert’s custom coffee blend for Le Bernardin, produced in partnership with Brooklyn-based Stone Street Coffee, is now available to buy for home use.

— The Doughnut Project is selling limited-edition vodka doughnuts ($5) for takeout and delivery from December 18 to 20.

— Lower East Side bagel shop Baz’s Bagels is selling bagel baking kits for customers looking for stay-at-home holiday activities. The kits cost $39 and come with all the fixings to make 10 bagels, plus a cooking playlist.

— Acclaimed Prospect Heights restaurant Olmsted has launched a new ‘Cozy Cottage’ program for outdoor dining in cold weather, according to a restaurant spokesperson. The setup features tented, heated backyard seating, individual warming kits with blankets and gloves, and a menu of hot cocktails, pastas, fondue, and flaming s’mores.

— Chip City, the boulder-sized cookie shop formerly known as Chip NYC, is launching a new location in Sunnyside on December 22, according to the company.

— Buzzy NYC wine shop Parcelle paired up with Baldor to offer a series of wine and champagne three-packs for the holidays. The packs are priced between $60 to $165.

— A thread: