Dive Bars Struggle With the Coronavirus, Social Distancing, and Takeout | Eater
"A New York bar owned by Mark Connell for 15 years that caters to a young, social crowd and has worked to modernize its space without losing its accessibility to regulars. During the pandemic the bar mostly closed but experimented with to-go cocktails accompanied by bags of chips (to comply with rules requiring food with takeout alcohol), seeing only about 7% of usual sales; those efforts were sustained in part to use up a time-sensitive PPP loan, alongside an interest-free loan from the city. The owner used a $90,000 Love Your Local grant to update the venue, balancing cheap $3 PBRs for longtime patrons with higher-end offerings like Yamazaki for $15, but remains wary of customers flouting rules, enforcement visits, and the economics of reopening until indoor seating or usable outdoor parking spots are feasible." - Nick Mancall-Bitel
