Urbanism: When Will New York`s Restaurant Industry Recover?

 

(Drivebycuriosity) - New York´s restaurant industry is troubled. For years, extremely high rents and uncooperative landlords have been driving many chefs out of business. For instance W-50, a celebrated restaurant in my Lower East Side neighborhood, had to close when the hosting building got replaced by a condominium (wikipedia ). Chef Wylie Dufresne served only a tasting menu which made his restaurant a mecca for chefs all over the world. We also lost Schiller´s, a place widely known for its atmosphere ( grubstreet). These restaurants got replaced by a row of tiny fast food places serving tacos to go and such. 

New York`s restaurant crisis got worse in the recent months. Many of the better restaurants didn`t make it through the pandemic. They depend on foreign tourists and business customers, both stayed away. Before the crisis Manhattan had just one Indian cuisine restaurant with a Michelin star, called Junoon, but the place did not survive - like many other high-end restaurants. 

In contrast the fast food dives in my neighborhood are booming, fueled by the generous government checks. Many could double or triple their capacity because they could add many outdoor tables to their tiny indoor supply. Now many pedestrian walkways are difficult to pass because they are crammed with makeshift food places & bars and the crowds of their customers. Unfortunately the fast food crowds attract a lot beggars and criminals into the neighborhood. When the tourists come back to New York, they might not like what they will find.

I am convinced that the ambitious restaurants will come back some day. New York City is big & vibrant enough to give them a market. Someday the business folks will come back and the European & Asian crowds will join. Someday the re-strengthening global growth will lift even New York`s restaurant scene to new highs. Patience please.