BUFFALO, N.Y. (WKBW) — Without government support roughly two-thirds of New York's restaurants are likely to close by the end of the year. That's the grim prediction coming from a recent survey conducted by the State Restaurant Association (NYSRA).
A total of 1,042 restaurateurs from across the state responded to the survey.
“It is painfully clear that without financial assistance, the restaurant industry in New York State could collapse,” said Melissa Fleischut, President & CEO of NYSRA. “These recent survey results illustrate just how dire the financial situation has become for most restaurants, and it shows how critical it is that elected officials understand the urgency of the situation.”
Here is a full summary of the survey’s findings:
- 63.6% of restaurants said they are likely or somewhat likely to close by the end of the year without some form of financial relief; just 36.4% said they are likely or somewhat likely to remain open.
- Of those who are likely to close, 54.8% will be forced to shut their doors before November.
These results follow a NYSRA survey from August that found that 89.7% of New York’s restaurant owners say that it will be very or somewhat unlikely that their establishments will be profitable in the next six months.
NYSRA members are now pushing lawmakers for a relief package at both the federal and state levels.
