THIS IS QUEENSBOROUGH
queenschamber.org
Restaurateurs Thrilled as Vaccine Mandate is Lifted BY TANIA PADGETT Dianna Loiselle, owner of Astoria restaurant Telly’s Taverna, remembers when she became fed up with the proof of vaccination mandate. One evening as the dinner crowd trickled in, her hostess politely asked for and began reviewing vaccination cards and IDs. All complied without incident, except for one. A man, his face contorting with anger at the request, produced his card, but not without making several derogatory comments about his private area. The hostess fled the dining room and then burst into tears. Loiselle, who had been standing just a few feet away, could not believe what she had just heard. “I was in shock,” she said. “I kept asking myself, did he really just say that?” The mandate turned the restaurant business from a welcoming experience to an unwelcoming one, she added. “We did not want to police our customers.” Brian Urbina, co-owner of Dylan’s Forest Hills, said his experience with the mandate was also difficult. Customers would get verbally abusive with his staff after they were asked to show proof of vaccination and dinner traffic began to dwindle. Dylan’s, which opened two days before the pandemic shut down the world, was beginning to get back on its feet last year after managing several crises brought on by COVID-19. “Then the mandate came,” Urbina said. “And I wasn’t sure if the business would be able to survive the fallout.” But that all changed when Mayor Eric Adams lifted the ban on the mandate bringing relief to many restaurateurs. “The restaurant industry was devastated by the pandemic,” Tom Grech, president and chief executive officer of the Queens
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Mojitos in Jackson Heights saw an increase in business during the pandemic thanks to the Governor’s executive order permitting the sale of alcholic beverages “to-go.” Chamber of Commerce, said. been lifted. The owner of the Latin fusion “Many jobs were lost. Many “It saved my business,” he restaurant, which serves mouthbusinesses, shuttered. The re- said matter-of-factly. “Our rev- watering delights, such as grilled moval of the mandate has im- enue is now up 40 percent, and shrimp, smoked pork skin, toastproved the business climate so we expect it only to get better.” ed garlic bread, mashed fried that restaurants can now do what Dylan’s with its Hard Rock plantains and more, is also optithey do best and that’s provide a Café-inspired décor, live music mistic, but cautious. fine dining experience.” and menu full of comfort-food “We are back,” Muñoz said. Indeed. Queens restaurant favorites was in the hole for al- “But Queens restaurants still owners interviewed by “This is most a million dollars due to the need support.” Queensborough” said the remov- pandemic. More needs to be done, he al of the mandate has brought The mandate, which was said, adding that he would like to immediate benefits to their busi- meant to save lives, was killing see the legalization of alcoholic nesses. his business. When it was re- beverages “to-go” and other proDuring one evening in March, moved, the restaurant started to business initiatives. Telly’s dining room is full. Wait- fill up with customers again, UrGrech noted that the chamers bustle about with platters bina said. ber is ready to offer assistance to groaning with steaming plates of His business goals include Queens restaurants. Greek favorites, grilled octopus, paying off debt, bringing in even “The Queens Chamber of fish, fried calamari and spinach bigger acts to the venue, and Commerce offers technical assispie. keeping customers happy. tance, business advice and finanThe low murmur of people enMarcos Muñoz, owner of Mo- cial planning for restaurants,” joying a night out and the sound jitos in Jackson Heights, also Grech said. “We are committed of wine-filled glasses clinking saw a bump in business after the to getting Queens businesses fill the air. mandate was lifted. back on track. Call us!” The restaurant’s business is almost back to pre-pandemic levels, Loiselle said. Next steps are to keep getting better, she replied. “We’ve been here for more than 30 years serving fresh, delicious Greek food, and we plan to continue that tradition for at least 30 more,” Loiselle said. Urbina said he wept with joy Telly’s Taverna in Astoria when he heard the mandate had
