Restaurants struggle to survive during pandemic, worry about reopening

The owner of the popular Westchester Burger Company says a big part of recovery will depend on just how many people will feel comfortable enough to come back into restaurants once they reopen.

News 12 Staff

May 8, 2020, 4:49 PM

Updated 1,583 days ago

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The food service industry has some of the highest unemployment numbers during the pandemic.
Angelo DiFeo, owner of the popular Westchester Burger Company in White Plains and Scarsdale, says he's had to be creative in order to survive during the coronavirus pandemic.
For example, he is booking his food trucks in a different neighborhood each day in addition to offering curbside take-out service at the restaurants.
And as the unemployment numbers hit an all-time high Friday, DiFeo says he's doing what he can to keep his staff working. "We've actually been rotating our employees, our kitchen staff, I have a few cooks that have been rotating. I took some of my servers as delivery guys on the truck."
But the challenge to survive is far from over. DiFeo is trying to figure out what his restaurants will look like once he can reopen. "Obviously spacing tables is going to be one thing, maybe coming up with an idea of you can order through your own cellphone without touching menus."
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