The restaurant industry in Brooklyn, New York has experienced a dramatic shift over the past year due to the COVID-19 pandemic. From the introduction of outdoor dining configurations to the urgent calls for meatless meals, the pandemic has had a profound impact on the industry. When Diner opened its doors two decades ago, it sparked a new way of dining with its casual service style and commitment to locally sourced ingredients. The pandemic has only accelerated the changes that were already taking place in the restaurant industry.
Nowadays, it is common to find restaurants with tables and chairs arranged along the sidewalk, with some even having heaters and covers to protect diners from the elements. The pandemic has pushed restaurants to experiment with outdoor dining in all kinds of ways, not only for the benefit of diners but also to help keep businesses afloat. Before the pandemic, outdoor dining was limited to sidewalk seating and only a few, more expensive restaurants had access to them. Now, restaurants have taken over parking spaces and streets that were closed to vehicle traffic.
The costly process of licensing outdoor dining has been replaced by an easy and instant online application. The pandemic has had a devastating effect on the restaurant industry in New York City. Thousands of restaurants have been permanently closed due to a lack of government aid, and thousands more are at risk of closing due to unpaid and deferred rents. Apps have also caused restaurants a lot of problems, including fake charges for phone calls that didn't result in orders and lost orders and revenue when DoorDash merged with Caviar last summer. In 1998, friends Andrew Tarlow and Mark Firth opened Diner in Williamsburg, which helped usher in a new generation of restaurants that served grass-fed beef and local cabbage. The pandemic has also made calls for meatless meals increasingly urgent.
The National Restaurant Association estimates that five to seven million people working in the restaurant industry could lose their jobs in June due to the coronavirus outbreak. The restaurant industry in Brooklyn, New York has been drastically altered by the pandemic. Outdoor dining configurations have brought beauty and vitality to our streets, while apps have caused restaurants a lot of problems. The pandemic has also made calls for meatless meals increasingly urgent, while thousands of restaurants are at risk of closing due to unpaid and deferred rents. It will likely take months or even years to fully assess the damage caused by COVID-19.
