Battered restaurants look forward to federal relief

SEATTLE — The timing turned out tough for Bridgette Johnson.

She opened Central Cafe and Juice Bar in Seattle’s Central District in January 2020.

“We’re still excited about it even though we’re in the pandemic, but our neighborhood is supporting us, and we love them for it,” Johnson said.

That neighborhood support is critical because she got no help from last year’s federal relief package.

“All the denial letters we got were simply, ‘You weren’t in business long enough.’”

She hopes things will be different once Congress passes the new $1.9 trillion American Rescue Plan, which includes $28.6 billion in direct aid for restaurants.

Restaurants can apply for up to $5 million in grants or $10 million if they have multiple locations.

“It’s terrific for the restaurants that are still open, for the hotels that are still operating. It will help people get to the other side,” said Bob Donegan, president of Ivar’s.

With indoor dining in Washington still capped at 25%, restaurants are struggling to cover costs like rent and insurance. “For every month we’ve been closed, your average restaurant has assumed another $25,000 in debt,” said Anthony Anton, CEO of the Washington Hospitality Association.

Anton said the state had about 14,000 restaurants before the pandemic and lost 2,000 in the first few months.

“We’re worried about a similar number being lost again,” Anton said.

Bridgette Johnson kept her new business open but had to lay off three employees and now works six days a week.

She hopes, with federal help, to bring them back.

“Just for my own self, so I don’t drop dead from working every day,” she said, laughing.

Cox Media Group