Displaying items by tag: restaurants

While many businesses are allowed to reopen in Georgia, some black small business owners are struggling with the decision, especially since black Americans appear to be at higher risk when it comes to Covid-19.

The novel coronavirus pandemic has severely impacted small businesses around the country with many seeking federal relief to keep their workforce and operations afloat. Despite government stimulus incentives and loans through the broken PPP program, black business owners are uncertain that federal relief will be enough for them to save their business.

The owners of Ben’s Chili Bowl’s flagship restaurant in northwest D.C. say that despite a glaring reduction in revenue brought on by the coronavirus pandemic, they remain committed to keeping their lone standing eatery afloat.

Sage Ali, who along with his elderly mother Virginia and other family members had expanded their business to seven restaurants at one point, told ABC News that while their small diner on U Street had survived the riots of 1968, they’ve never endured a financial fallout to the extent that the virus has left them to deal with.

Although the family applied for a Paycheck Protection Program loan under the newly crafted federal government-operated stimulus package, they said they’ve been stuck in limbo as lawmakers who passed the $484 billion relief package clashed over how best to spend the funds on other rescue programs.

“I’ll be honest with you, it’s a little bit emotional. To tell Mom we didn’t get that loan, it was hard, seeing her face,” Ali told the news network. “Mom is 86 — a very young, very sharp 86. Mom understands very well the financial situation right now, and she knew how critical that funding was. So, for me to get off the phone and walk into that other room and say, ‘Guys, it didn’t go in,’ that was a very tough moment for me.”

Ali said that after applying for a PPP loan at Citi First of DC, it seemed like bank officials kept coming back for more information.

“We were following the guidelines — go to one bank at a time — but we got left out,” Ali’s wife Vida said, ABC reported. “I was shocked when the money was out.”

Yet the family has committed itself to keeping the U Street location up and running.

“The second it opens up again, we should be going right in,” Sage said of the PPP program.

“You want to be confident. You want to be hopeful,” Ali told ABC. “U Street could never close. We’re telling Mom, we can’t close that location after everything you did to survive. Even if it’s down to five people. Whatever it takes.”

Source https://www.washingtoninformer.com/owners-of-bens-chili-bowl-determined-to-keep-restaurant-afloat/

Chef Creole will soon share its unique fusion of Haitian-Bahamian culinary tradition with the plethora of tourists and visitors who come through Miami International Airport on a daily basis.

Owner Wilkinson Sejour, affectionately known as Chef Creole, is well known around Little Haiti, but he has managed to attract the attention of county commissioners, a famous chef, big-time developers and scores of loyal customers. Banks, however, have managed to overlook Sejour’s popularity. Still, he has been able to open up six Chef Creole locations, the latest at the airport next week.

The parent company of several Roscoe’s House of Chicken and Waffles restaurants emerged from bankruptcy this week when a Los Angeles judge confirmed a modified confirmation plan to repay creditors, it was announced today.  No further substantive court hearings are anticipated in the case.

Norma G’s Cuisine, an authentic Caribbean cuisine restaurant, is the first sit-down, full service establishment in Detroit's Jefferson-Chalmers neighborhood in 30 years.

The sleek, new dining destination gets its name from owner and chef Lester Gouvia’s mother, and seats 91 people inside, which includes seating for 12 at the bar. It also features a high-top seating area, plenty of windows that brighten the casual space and retractable window that opens to patio dining.

For decades, Ben’s Chili Bowl owner Virginia Ali ate a beef hotdog daily that she slathered with mustard, onions and of course, the restaurant’s famous chili.

But nine years ago, when Ali turned 75 and the doctor told her she was at risk of having a stroke because her cholesterol had shot up to 240, Ali knew she had to change her diet.

Codman Square’s Juice and Jazz Cafe is approaching its one-year anniversary of serving freshly made sandwiches, salads, juices, coffee and smoothies in this Boston neighborhood.

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Paul Hiles has created a place for his generation to enjoy good music in the community. The post Paul’s Place—The New Spot for the Grown & Sexy Generation appeared first on Los Angeles Sentinel....