San Gabriel Valley Restaurateurs Are Determined To Make Their Businesses Work, Even With Mounting Losses
Speaker 1: 00:00 The California restaurant association says up to one third of the state's eateries might not survive the pandemic. That number could be significantly higher in the Bay area and Los Angeles County, where immigrants who are particularly vulnerable to changes in the economy make up a larger share of restaurant owners. Kcrws Benjamin Gottlieb spoke with restaurant tours and the San Gabriel Valley, just East of LA it's home to a vibrant Chinese American food scene. Speaker 2: 00:31 It's lunchtime at NBC seafood restaurants in Monterey park. I'm sitting with Genevieve Ko on the last day of outdoor dining in Los Angeles. She's a recipe creator and also editor for the New York times cooking section. And she grew up in this part of East LA County on the menu. It Cantonese staple. She grew up eating dim sum. Speaker 3: 00:54 So this is a steamed rice roll with a roasted pork with Chelsea. So dig in Speaker 2: 01:01 Now, enjoined him, some comes with the type of dining experience tailored for a large banquet hall. You know, the place red carpeting, no-frills white tablecloth round tables that sit 12. Oh yeah. Tea kettles that are always full, but with outdoor dining now on hold in LA and in other parts of California co says, there's a real risk places like this one just won't make it. Speaker 3: 01:24 Yeah. A lot of these other restaurants actually closed even before COVID. And so this was one of the last few that are running now. Speaker 2: 01:31 Other restaurants that had been doing relatively well with outdoor dining are beginning to struggle. That includes popping yolk in nearby Alhambra. Speaker 3: 01:41 So that's going to come up to nine 10 and your order ready in about 15 minutes, Speaker 2: 01:45 It's a brunch spot owned by Jason Simon. Speaker 4: 01:47 The Oak is designed for timings. It's not designed for, to go. So it wasn't really work because nobody coming over here together, Eric Bennett, they took off. I mean they did, but that a lot of people, you know, nobody coming over here and say, I want a grabber French toast to go, you know, or me most out to go. They want that Amy Speaker 2: 02:07 XY says he's staying open for now, but with eight grand and rents and utilities, another 20 for his wait staff and his chef, he just doesn't know how long he can last. And it's a similar story down the road at Jong non-spring and Alhambra Francis Chang says, she's hoping news of a vaccine will bolster business at her restaurant. Speaker 3: 02:29 [inaudible] this isn't going to end until there's a vaccine. Um, just because it's going to be open, close, open, close. And so short term is, you know, everyone is getting used to having to order takeout either online on the phone, Speaker 2: 02:46 There is some financial help on the way governor Gavin Newsome says he's extending the tax deadline for restaurants by three months in LA is offering upwards of $30,000 for payroll and other business expenses. For now, for these restaurant owners, it's all about adapting, gritting your teeth and a little luck Speaker 5: 03:06 That was kcrws Benjamin Gottlieb reporting from the San Gabriel Valley.
