Recent survey of New York City restaurants finds more than 90% of restaurants have customer-facing challenges

Attendees of the New York Produce Show and Conference will find plenty of restaurants open for business in December, but the recovery from the pandemic continues to be rocky for many operators.

A mid-October survey of New York City restaurants across all five boroughs found that a majority of operators have substantial staffing and customer-facing challenges relating to the city’s vaccine mandate, according to a news release.

New York City requires that people 12 and older must show identification and proof they have received at least one dose of a COVID-19 vaccine for indoor dining. In addition, the mandate also requires vaccination for employees at restaurants.

According to the survey of 125 restaurant operators, conducted by the New York State Restaurant Association, more than 90% of restaurants have customer-facing challenges, with the most common being customers refusing to dine after the vaccine mandate is enforced.

At the same time, more than 75% of operators reported they have staff-facing challenges, with the most common being staff refusing to get vaccinated. That, the survey said, has resulted in a significant reduction in available workers at a time when “virtually no restaurant” is fully staffed.

These results come as New York prepares for colder months when outdoor dining options are limited.

“Restaurants have been forced to serve as conduits of public health and are paying the price, Melissa Fleischut, president and CEO of New York State Restaurant Association, said in a news release.

“Operators are losing business and staff. Employees are now subject to undue harassment and hostility. The mandate is a burden on an industry that cannot bear anymore. New York City must find alternatives instead of relying on already taxed business owners and their staffs.”

According to the release, the summary of the survey revealed:

• Over 90% of respondents are having customer-facing challenges, with the most common being: customers refusing to dine at a restaurant after seeing they are enforcing the vaccine mandate (67.2%);
• Customers taking extra time at check in, and must be persuaded to present proof of vaccine (66.4%);
• Customers canceling future events at an establishment because of the vaccine mandate (61.6%); and customers who are hostile towards, or yell and scream at, the host (59.2%);
• Over 75% of respondents are dealing with problems from the mandate that are impacting their staff, with the most common being: staff refused to get vaccinated and had to be placed on leave (44%); staff had to be reassigned to monitor the door to enforce the mandate (42.4%); and staff are spread too thin to easily enforce the mandate (39.2%):
• Respondents overwhelmingly (76.8%) report that business has been negatively impacted by the vaccine mandate, with 57.6% reporting business has worsened significantly and another 19.2% saying business has worsened a little. Less than 7% reported business improvement and 16.8% said it was the same; and 
• For restaurants that have been inspected, about 1 in 5 had an inspector who asked for improper documents, like records of staff vaccination or records of indoor dining customers. 

“The industry continues to grapple with lingering repercussions of the pandemic,” Fleischut said in the release. “Changes in consumer behavior, record-high equipment prices, supply chain shortages, an increase in food prices and a declining workforce are all serious challenges operators have to face each day their doors are open. City government should work to support restaurants during this time, not
continue to add to their plight.”