By Carey Lin
Since Massachusetts went into lockdown due to Covid-19, restaurants have been coping by continuing their takeout business with “no-contact deliveries”. Some restaurants are weathering the storm. Tora, a Japanese restaurant on Tyler Street in Chinatown is “doing okay” and busy with takeout orders, according Eric, a Tora part-time worker. “Weekends are still pretty busy for us,” he said.
But those who rely heavily on the dine-in experience such as hot pot, are not as fortunate.
Hot pot restaurant Shabu-Zen on 16 Tyler Street in Chinatown has closed their store temporarily since the lockdown, unable to deliver the same experience to customers’ homes. As such, they have not been doing well. “Some stores are having a much harder time staying afloat than others,” said Evelyn Chen, from Dolphin Bay at 72 Brighton Ave. “It’s much more difficult to pack some food-to-go.”
Dolphin Bay in Allston, however, has been staying afloat despite being short-staffed. “A lot of our part-timers are college students in the area,” Chen said. “The majority of our staff are no longer in Boston, and so it’s now just our family running the business.”
According to Chen, many restaurants in the area have been doing worse, and under the circumstances, Dolphin Bay is managing to stay afloat. They are still taking orders and having them delivered through the different delivery companies they have partnered with.
To maintain social distancing regulations, they have blockaded their entrance with tables and all employees are required to wear masks and gloves. “We used to let them come to the counter, but we don’t do that anymore,” Chen said. “We always stay behind the counter when they come to get their takeout, and that’s more than six feet apart.”
Another restaurant, Xiang’s Hunan Kitchen at 1032 Commonwealth Avenue has also applied the same safety measures. They have blockaded their entrance and only allow take-out pick-ups right by the door. “We’ve built quite a reputation and business has always been good to the point where there is often a line outside waiting to dine-in,” said “Mr. Chang”, who did not want to give his full name. Owner and manager of the restaurant, Chang, said that despite not earning the same revenue by relying on takeout only, they have managed to stay afloat. The PPE relief funds they have received have also definitely helped them pay their employees during this time.
On May 18th, Governor Baker announced details regarding the first phase in reopening Massachusetts. According to the press release and mass.gov website, restaurants are expected to open in Phase Two, and until then will remain takeout and delivery only. However, details of Phase Two are unclear and the guidelines and policies for reopening restaurants have yet to be announced. Phase One began on May 18, and Phase Two is expected to begin at least three weeks later if Covid-19 cases have not increased drastically.
Dolphin Bay may not open even after Phase Two begins. “We might even remain take-out only until the fall semester begins or when we have college students part-timing again,” Chen said. “Without the help, we would not be able to handle the work load of a dine-in service.” As a family business, the staff of Dolphin Bay will remain so until they can get the help they need.
Chang said that despite the announcement to reopen the state, the details are not explicit. “We will remain the way we have until further notice,” he said. Mr. Chang is concerned about having to separate customers with a safe distance and find a solution that is safe for employees to interact with customers. As of now, Xiang’s Hunan Kitchen will remain take-out only until further notice. “As much as we will and would like to comply with Gov. Baker’s policies, […] it needs to be more clear so we can decide what to do,” said Mr. Chang.
