Governor Outlines Stages of New Jersey’s Reopening
Eases restrictions on some outdoor recreational activities. Gov. Phil Murphy announced Monday he would sign an executive order opening up additional outdoor activities, effective Friday at 6 a.m. Outdoor recreational activities that can resume include batting cages, golf ranges, shooting and archery ranges, horseback riding, private tennis clubs and community gardens. In addition, golfers will be able to play as foursomes instead of just as pairs. Murphy outlined the stages he said will be involved in reaching that new normal. Social distancing and staying home whenever possible will “remain constant,” as will wearing face coverings when out in public, and safe hygiene like washing hands frequently.
New Jersey Gyms Reopen
In defiance of coronavirus closure. A gym in New Jersey reopened for business early Monday, defying a state order that shut down nonessential businesses to help stem the spread of the novel coronavirus. People began gathering outside the Atilis Gym in Bellmawr, Camden County, several hours before it reopened at 8 a.m. The owners have said the decision to resume operations at the members-only facility was not about financial gain, but rather a question of Constitutional rights. “We truly believe that if we don’t do this, in the end, we will have zero rights and no say in what happens,” co-owner Frank Trumbetti. Around 10:30 a.m., police approached the business and spoke with the gym owners. The officers informed the pair and the crowd that they were formally in violation of the shutdown order, adding that police were present “only for everybody’s safety.” The officers then wished everyone well and told them “have a nice day” before walking away from the gym as the crowd erupted in cheers, some high-fives and “U-S-A” chants.
At the Drive-In
Thrills, chills, popcorn and hand sanitizer. Cabin fever and movies drew carloads of people to the drive-in theater in Warwick, N.Y., on Friday as it opened for business again. As the sun set, masked ticketholders lined up at the snack bar to order candy and buttered popcorn, dutifully planting themselves six feet behind the person in front of them. Children horsed around. Adults sipped beverages. An older couple ate ice cream on lawn chairs as smoke from a nearby grill wafted toward them. It felt like that first, euphoric summer night of the year. Except a note of caution hung in the air.
Restaurants Likely Won’t Open Until There’s a Covid-19 Vaccine
The operator of popular NYC eateries including the Gramercy Tavern says. Danny Meyer, head of Union Square Hospitality Group, which owns New York City hotspots Union Square Cafe and Gramercy Tavern, has said that some of his restaurants probably won’t open until there’s a coronavirus vaccine. Most experts indicate that the earliest a vaccine would be widely available is January 2021. There is no interest or excitement on my part to having a half-full dining room while everyone is getting their temperature taken and wearing masks, for not much money,” he said.
PPP is Complicated for Restaurants
One chef explains why. When the Payroll Protection Program (PPP) was launched in early April, it was meant to help small businesses get back on their feet by offering a forgivable loan to pay for two months’ worth of payroll, rent, and utilities. However, given the rules for how the money could be used, chefs and restaurant owners found the program to be deeply flawed. Still, in desperate need of funding, many applied for the loan, hoping that the rules would change. The reality is that the PPP wasn’t designed to deal with the long-term economic crisis businesses are facing. It was just supposed to get us through eight weeks. The pandemic is likely to hang around a lot longer than that.
Did You Know?
Mark Cuban says families should get $1,000 in stimulus checks every two weeks — with one big catch. Today’s “Restaurant Rap” features an interview with restauranteur, owner and operator of Old Man Billionaire Mark Cuban says it’s time for the government to push “trickle-up economics” to save small businesses, because the Paycheck Protection Program isn’t cutting it. “The only thing that will save businesses is consumer demand,” he wrote in a series of tweets Sunday. “No amount of loans to businesses will save them or jobs if their customers aren’t buying.” To do that, he explained, we have to have a transitional jobs program that trains and hires millions of people for a federal tracking/tracing/testing program, along with support for at-risk populations. “We need to dent unemployment with stable jobs,” Cuban said.
Employee Tip
Working from home – here’s how to stay productive and curb anxiety. For some, working from home sounds like a dream: sending emails from your couch (sans pants), “commuting” from your bed to your desk, escaping the drama of office politics. But the novelty of these work-from-home perks can wear off quickly. I know because I experienced it firsthand. I started working from home just six months after graduating from college in 2015. I’d made a big move to Boston with my then-boyfriend from Des Moines, and fortunately, my employers had allowed me to continue working for them remotely. I remember friends being envious of my WFH status, and I’d be lying if I said I didn’t think I’d hit the jackpot. But within a few weeks of trading the cubicle life for my kitchen table, feelings of deep isolation and disconnection set in. Looking back, I now realize exactly why that happened. For starters, I had close to no human interaction, physical or emotional, until my now-husband came home from work in the evenings. And since I worked from my apartment, I struggled to “switch off” once the workday was over.
Bielat Santore & Company – Restaurant Industry Daily Alerts
A voice for our industry. If you are finding these daily bulletins informative and beneficial during this pandemic, we kindly ask that you write a brief Google review providing a vote of your appreciation. Simply Google “Bielat Santore & Company” and when the company name appears click the button on the right to write your review or; if you don’t use Gmail, go to Google Maps, type “Bielat Santore & Company” – Allenhurst, NJ into Google Maps; scroll down and you will see an option to leave a review.
Thank you and remember all of the “Restaurant Industry Alerts” and “Thursday Restaurant Rap” interviews can be found at www.123bsc.com/news/. We intend to continue to keep you informed as we all look for an end to this crisis.
How to market your restaurant for sale during the coronavirus pandemic. Of course, it will be challenging to market and sell businesses that have temporarily been shuttered during the pandemic, because valuations are based on historical financial data. However, whether you choose to reopen your business or not, owners can still position them for sale. So, what should you do if you want to sell in the next 6 – 12 months? Contact a good business broker that specializes in the sale of hospitality real estate and businesses. Bielat Santore & Company, Allenhurst, NJ has been brokering such sales for over 40 years and will be able to help you come up with flexible deal structures and capital sources to make a sale possible; call for a free consultation – 732.531.4200.
