Top Triangle restaurants say reopening only half-full of diners won’t work financially
Gov. Roy Cooper says if several North Carolina benchmarks are met, bars and restaurants in the state could reopen in some form by the end of May.
But the owners and chefs of some of the Triangle’s most popular restaurants say that plan doesn’t work for them.
Nearly 40 top restaurant owners have signed a letter saying their business numbers won’t work with half-full restaurants. Among those on the letter are Cheetie Kumar of Garland in Raleigh, Matt Kelly of Mateo and Saint James in Durham, Scott Crawford of Raleigh’s Crawford & Son and the owners of restaurants like the Players Retreat and Royale in Raleigh and Rose’s Noodles, Dumplings & Sweets in Durham.
“We are eager to reopen as quickly as possible, but we’re not in favor of opening at reduced capacity,” said Elizabeth Turnbull, who signed the letter and owns Cuban restaurant COPA in Durham with her husband, Roberto Matos. “We have the number of seats we have in the restaurant because that’s what we need to be financially solvent. ... (Reopening with reduced capacity) feels like it’s something that’s more symbolic than useful.”
The letter argues that partial reopening favors corporate chains with larger dining rooms, not small independent restaurants. The restaurants say that takeout is a better option until full dining rooms can reopen.
“Rather than reopen under conditions that would almost certainly ensure failure, we ask that you help us maintain the status quo of curbside takeout and delivery service until we can operate safely at full capacity,” the letter states.
How restaurants are surviving
Every meal you’ve had in the last month and a half was either made at home or came in a takeout box. Since March 17, North Carolina restaurants have been closed to stop the spread of the coronavirus. To-go operations sprang up, but dining rooms are empty and bar stools are cold.
With the shutdown, many restaurants have stayed afloat with limited takeout operations. Just as many have closed their doors, hoping to reopen on the other side of the coronavirus curve.
COPA serves upscale Cuban tapas in downtown Durham, but has made its menu work with delivery and takeout. Still, Turnbull said the restaurant’s revenue is down as much as 70% some weeks. To supplement, the owners have followed other restaurants in selling groceries, launching COPA Bodega and offering raw meat, eggs, bread and other provisions.
“We’re doing enough business that we can keep the business alive,” Turnbull said.
Turnbull worries that people will take this limited reopening of restaurants to mean that restaurants are open, full stop. She says that will take away leverage owners have with landlords and creditors and shift public health liability from governments to restaurants.
“The narrative will be restaurants are open, not restaurants are partially open,” Turnbull said. “It puts us in an impossible position with our lenders and for people needing payment deferments and rent abatement. Those people are going to say, ‘What’s your problem? You’re open.’”
Response from Durham mayor
The letter has been sent to Cooper, Durham Mayor Steve Schewel and state representatives.
Mayor Schewel’s response was shared with the News & Observer and said that the city planned to form a “recovery and renewal task force” next week to consider a reopening plan, which would include restaurant owners.
“I know how hard this is for all of you, and I want to do everything I can to help you all get back in business in a way that works for you, and a way that keeps our community safe,” Mayor Schewel said in his letter.
The Durham mayor also raised the idea of closing some downtown streets in a way to accommodate more outdoor dining.
Turnbull said the preferred timeline is up to the state’s health officials. Once they feel it’s safe for people to be in dining rooms fully, that’s when COPA will open, she said.
“We want to hear from health officials and know they’re in support before we’ll open our doors,” Turnbull said.
This story was originally published April 30, 2020 at 5:08 PM.
