Your guide to NYC's public proceedings.
Q&A
Council Member Narcisse discusses challenges of outdoor dining with business owners
1:07:40
·
3 min
Council Member Mercedes Narcisse engages in a Q&A session with restaurant owners and industry representatives about the challenges of the outdoor dining program in New York City. The discussion focuses on the difficulties of operating without a liquor license, the burden of paperwork, and the council's commitment to supporting businesses.
- Business owners emphasize that outdoor dining is not viable without a liquor license due to profit margins and operational challenges.
- Concerns are raised about the extensive paperwork required for the program and its impact on staff.
- Council Member Narcisse reassures business owners of the council's intent to work with them and improve the program, acknowledging the importance of restaurants to New York City's identity.
Mercedes Narcisse
1:07:40
Good morning, thank you chair and good morning for being here and as a former small business owner I know how difficult it can be in New York City to run business, right?
1:07:52
So now I heard from you I was gonna ask the question around the paperwork and all the things that we can do to make it easier, but now I want to hear from the business owners how we can help you.
1:08:06
What is the step that you're expecting from us beside the paperwork because the paperwork is tremendous and one of the questions that I have, I know the liquor license have been difficult.
1:08:16
How viable is outdoor without dining without liquor license?
1:08:22
Yeah.
Robert Guarino
1:08:25
Without liquor license it would not be viable at all.
1:08:28
How do how can we explain to our guests that they can have a glass of wine inside but but not outside?
1:08:34
It's it's you know, we it wouldn't be viable for street or or sidewalk at that point for sure.
Megan Rickerson
1:08:40
But also the burden on staff of policing that.
1:08:43
I mean, we all saw during COVID the burden that was put on checking people's vax cards.
1:08:48
Like, I had a human throw a glass bottle at a bartender over a vax card.
1:08:53
It's not the staff that are serving drinks or food.
1:08:57
It's not their responsibility to police things like that.
1:09:00
You know?
1:09:00
And then so if we can't serve alcohol, then we have to hire security because then you have running the risk of someone taking alcohol outside and then the SLA coming by and then pulling your liquor license.
1:09:12
And once you lose your liquor license, you can never get one ever again.
1:09:16
So if I've spent my entire life being a bar owner and that's gone, and that's based on just like someone taking something outside.
1:09:23
There are just so many levels, and it's like as much as COVID is over for hospitality, people are still really tired.
1:09:31
And then to ask your staff to do more on what they're already doing, it's a big ask.
1:09:36
And we're just trying to love on people and be hospitable and take care of the people we employ.
1:09:42
So it's just too much of an ask for people to do that.
1:09:46
And we as I said, nine zero seven burgers, I think I said, to break even.
1:09:51
Take away alcohol and you think about the margins that you make on food, which is not a lot compared to the margins that you make on selling alcohol because food goes bad.
1:10:01
Alcohol does not.
1:10:02
So
Crizette Woods
1:10:03
And to add, just the burden of of the paperwork, reducing the paperwork because it it is very time consuming for my team trying to complete these applications in the back and forth.
1:10:14
Yes.
Mercedes Narcisse
1:10:15
Been there.
1:10:16
I know how difficult that can be.
1:10:19
Another thing that I want to ask you, do you think because we all want you to stay in business, that's what make New York City New York City.
1:10:27
We're not perfect in legislation because legislation we have to address certain things.
1:10:32
Keep in mind, right, it's just not to take your business out I in all the defense of my colleagues.
1:10:39
We know that shed was a problem.
1:10:42
Sidewalk Cafe was a problem.
1:10:44
We wanna work with you.
1:10:46
Just keep that in mind.
1:10:47
So whatever that you feel like we can do, we we hear the paperwork, and I'm sure Gilboy gonna be on top of it.
1:10:55
We're gonna have that conversation because we need you to stay in business, and we're not here to push you out of the door because without restaurant in New York City, we're not New York City.
1:11:05
So I wanna say that whatever you think that we can do for you, we're gonna continue working on it.
1:11:10
We know that alcohol is a problem like you just mentioned, and I'm here to support.
1:11:15
And I know chair Julie Menon is gonna continue working with you and we're gonna make it happen, okay?
1:11:22
The best way we can.
1:11:23
So thank you for your business in New York City.
Rob Bookman
1:11:25
Thank you.
1:11:26
Thank you.