Central Square pub shutting down after 25 years due to coronavirus concerns

The chains can raise money on wallstreet.
Mom and pop owner business's are screwed.

This restaurant/bar die off ain’t over. There is no long term plan for relief.

The only tenable option for most independent bars and many neighborhood restaurants is to pay them to stay shut. Otherwise, expect this to continue because the opportunity to generate the revenue they need comes in the distant phase 4, and even then there is no guarantee of return to 100% capacity during phase 4.

All this outdoor seating is nice - rain not withstanding - if you have the location for it. Takeout is helpful. But there are many establishments we frequent that have neither a charming patio nor sidewalk bistro seating. Furthermore, we know this COVID outdoor dining trend is a seasonal contingency soon to hibernate.

There is no path for survival for MOST of our favorite establishments. Even if restrictions were looser, the populous is cautions and many still avoid public accommodations. And pay attention to the places - locally and nation wide - that open only to have to shutter again because of an outbreak; that, too, takes a financial toll.

The business model of these places depends on conviviality and community. Without results that mimic New Zealand or South Korea etc, we might be years away from an environment where the classic neighborhood watering hole and pub can thrive.

One stop gap I would recommend we support in the meantime is the Restaurant Act. We can’t just say to these small businesses “good luck, you’re on your own!”

https://thehill.com/business-a-lobbying/business-a-lobbying/503389-bipar...