Nearly 90% Of NYC’s Restaurants Couldn’t Pay Rent In August

This week, The NYC Hospitality Alliance released survey findings indicating that 87% of the city’s restaurants, bars, and nightclubs were unable to pay their rent in the month of August.

Of the 450 business owners who took the survey, about a third said they couldn’t pay any of their August rent, about half said they could only pay some, and 12% said they could afford to pay all of it. That means roughly one out of ten NYC restaurants and bars could afford the full amount due to their landlord in August.

The number of business owners who are reporting difficulties paying rent has only increased as the summer has gone on. Between NYC Hospitality Alliance’s June and July rent surveys, there was a three percent increase in those unable to afford rent. The August rent survey shows an increase of four percent.

Although Governor Cuomo recently extended the moratorium on Covid-related evictions for businesses until October 20th, many are still unable to find relief from landlords. When survey respondents were asked whether their landlords have deferred any rent cost in relation to Covid-19, 61% of those surveyed said no. Around the same percentage of owners said they had not yet negotiated their lease with their landlords. Some restaurant owners who have closed their businesses have specifically cited issues regarding lease negotiation. You can keep track of all of the NYC restaurant closures here.

NYC Feature

NYC Restaurant Closings

So, What Can You Do?

• Shout about the Restaurants Act to your friends and representatives. If passed by congress, this act would provide federal relief to non-chain restaurants.

• Register to vote.

• Continue to support your favorite local restaurants by ordering takeout or dining outdoors.