Empire City Casino in Yonkers is expected to reopen in a couple of weeks - and for at least one business in the area, it can't come fast enough. 

Clairmont Diner sits just across the street from Empire City on Yonkers Avenue.

Business is slowly picking up after being shut down for a few months because of the coronavirus pandemic.

It's nothing compared to when the casino was open.

"We get their employees that come here for takeout, for eating, dining, pickup," says Clairmont Diner owner Maria Sofocli. "We're very happy to see that the casino will be opening up, and hopefully, we'll all soon get back to some normalcy."

Sofocli says about one-third of her customers came from Empire City.

A couple of blocks away on Yonkers Avenue, a convenience store known for selling winning lotto tickets is also anxiously awaiting the reopening of Empire City.

It says it is losing foot traffic from people who used to visit the casino.

Empire City Casino reportedly furloughed nearly 1,000 employees.

More than half are expected to return when it reopens on Sept. 21.