After trying takeout-only, some CNY restaurants close and wait for coronavirus to go away – syracuse.com

Syracuse, N.Y. When Gov. Andrew Cuomo announced last week that restaurants statewide would be closed to eat-in diners, many restaurants around Central New York switched to takeout- or delivery-only.

Now two local restaurants might join another growing list: restaurants that have decided to temporarily close after initially staying open following the coronavirus-related dining room ban.

Heres two of their stories:

The Cider Mill Restaurant in Taunton. Best of CNY chicken riggies. Charlie Miller

The Cider Mill on Fay Road in Taunton gave the takeout-only business a whirl last week, and it was popular. They sold out of corned beef on St. Patricks Day, the first night after the dining room ban was instituted. They had a steady flow on Wednesday and Thursday too. On Friday, owner Dan Seeley and his crew sold 200 fish dinners and 200 regular meals. They brought in $5,000. A great night, he said.

Customers wove through a carefully orchestrated maze in the parking lot to pick up their meals, give a faraway wave to the people who have been serving them for the past three years before heading home.

The phone didnt stop ringing Saturday either. Seeleys wife and daughter were taking the orders and handling payments while his new granddaughter sat in a swing inside the empty restaurant. Seeley and the other chefs tried to keep up in the kitchen while his servers greeted the customers outside.

At the end of the night, I looked around and had to wonder if it was really worth it, Seeley said today. Everyone was just exhausted. In the end, if someone had gotten sick, I would never be able to live with myself. The people who work here are like family. And right now, we all need to be with our families.

The Cider Mill in Syracuse had two very busy nights of takeout, but when it was all over, owner Dan Seeley decided to close until the coronavirus scare had passed.Dan Seeley

He and his staff met and decided to stop the takeout business. He promised theyd reopen once the virus had passed and the state lifted the restrictions put on restaurants. His wife, Teresa, posted a note on the restaurants Facebook page Sunday night. Since then, theyve been inundated with well-wishes from longtime customers.

Theres no handbook that helps you prepare for this, he said. But the people whove reached out to us made me think deep down inside that well get through this.

Seeleys already spoken with his mortgage company, and it has extended his next payment on the restaurant for 90 days. On Monday, he sat in a quiet office, paid bills, went through inventory and thought about what to do next.

He figures his staff can collect unemployment until Cider Mill reopens. Hes still going to explore a low-interest loan that could help his 40 employees.

He and other restaurant owners speak regularly through text message groups and social media. He fears many restaurants and bars will close permanently.

Seeleys catering business, Diamond Catering, has already taken a hit. Hes lost $40,000 in the last few weeks alone. May 2 is his first scheduled wedding of the upcoming season. After that, hes got at least one booked every weekend.

Its like a movie, a really scary movie, he said sitting in the silent restaurant. But we have strength in numbers. Im pretty optimistic. We really are all in this together.

Nesticos restaurant in North Syracuse has been open for about 20 years, but now its taking things week-by-week." The Italian restaurant opened for takeout dinner service on Friday and owner Peter Nestico pledged to give 100% of the proceeds from service that day to his employees.

Nestico said hes planning to offer a limited menu of the restaurants best sellers for dinner this week from Wednesday to Saturday for takeout. If its profitable, they might do it again next week.

Peter Nestico inside Nestico's restaurant in North Syracuse. 2014 file photo.Don Cazentre

From this past Tuesday to Friday, the first week of the dining room ban, Nesticos did about one-third of its usual business. Even on Monday night, the last night of dine-in service, the restaurant only did about half its usual covers. With that, he was able to cover payroll, but little else.

That doesnt pay for anything, Nestico said.

Hes had to lay off around 90% of his employees, while others, particularly front of house staff, are questioning if it is worth it to work and potentially put themselves at risk.

Before the coronavirus pandemic shut down dining rooms across the state, only around 10% of business at Nesticos was takeout.

So 90% of my business went out the door, Nestico said.

Unlike other restaurants built for a takeout or delivery business, Nesticos had to adapt. Fast. That meant employees were given new job descriptions, the restaurant had to tweak its menu and prices needed to be adjusted.

"Everything was done on the fly basically, Nestico said.

His food suppliers have, for the most part, been accommodating. One told him that they would supply him for the dinner services this week and would accept delayed payment. Another said it would consider.

Hes been up at 5 or 6 in the morninghe cant sleep much these days anywaythinking about how to create a temporary business model in days thats vastly different than the one hes had years to perfect. Hes been chatting with Marty Richardson, owner of Nesticos Too diner in Fairmount, about what they can do next.

Were going to stay open until we absolutely cant anymore, Nestico said.

If the date comes where they cant stay open anymore, the long-term outlook for the restaurant is uncertain. Nestico said it will come down to banks and debtsif debts can be forgiven, then maybe the smaller restaurants can survive.

If this lasts a week or two, Ill survive," Nestico said. "If its longer than that, I dont think so.

Jacob Pucci and Charlie Miller find the best in food, dining and culture across Central New York. Contact Jake by email at jpucci@syracuse.com. You can reach Chuck at cmiller@syracuse.com or 315-382-1984.

After trying takeout-only, some CNY restaurants close and wait for coronavirus to go away – syracuse.com

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