BOSTON — The coronavirus has hit the restaurant and hospitality industry the hardest all across the country.
Massachusetts is no exception. Thousands of restaurants have gone under since March. But one local restaurant is beating the odds despite opening only a few months before the pandemic hit.
Mike Fucci celebrated a big milestone for his Needham restaurant with a surprise drive-by parade. Fucci is the owner of Chef Mike’s. He opened last August and never envisioned he’d nearly be wiped out by global pandemic.
“I was down about 87 percent. Right now, I’m still down around 53, my accountant seems to think. So we’re still down, but it’s better,” Fucci said.
Fucci didn’t get the federal Paycheck Protection Program loan, so he was forced to dip into his own personal savings to pay employees. A few were laid off, but all have been brought back. Fucci is adamant that outdoor dining has been a lifeline for his restaurant.
“I’m still here after this crazy pandemic of almost six months of my first year of being involved in this mess. You’re not the only one who is shocked, believe me,” he said.
Chef Mike’s is one of the fortunate ones. According to the Massachusetts Restaurant Association, 3,400 restaurants, or nearly a quarter in the state, have closed permanently due to the pandemic.
Bob Luz is the President and CEO of the organization.
He said it’s important we don’t go backwards and agrees with the governor that bars masquerading as restaurants need to be dealt with.
“Ninety-nine of the operators are following the protocols, so we are behind the crackdown of those that are not,” Luz said.
In Needham, so far, Chef Mike’s is beating the odds and is now looking forward to their second anniversary.
:quality(70)/cloudfront-us-east-1.images.arcpublishing.com/cmg/JS4DWJBKXNA47O2ETZIFRJHVQY.jpg)
Download the free Boston 25 News app for up-to-the-minute push alerts
>> Complete local and national coronavirus coverage here
RESOURCES:
- Massachusetts Coronavirus Information
- Boston Coronavirus Information
- Follow us on Facebook and Twitter | Watch Boston 25 NOW
/cloudfront-us-east-1.images.arcpublishing.com/cmg/7QOJU3BNCJERBNKJC5LWTBYFLU.png)
:quality(70)/cloudfront-us-east-1.images.arcpublishing.com/cmg/ILPLBLI3RCDLL777VJCKDR3VM4.jpg)
:quality(70)/cloudfront-us-east-1.images.arcpublishing.com/cmg/32AYNQKGAFFQPJ3X5IZ3VDVPU4.jpeg)
:quality(70)/cloudfront-us-east-1.images.arcpublishing.com/cmg/C2QUSGO7XKEJUBJQR2AGTFQ3QE.jpg)
:quality(70)/cloudfront-us-east-1.images.arcpublishing.com/cmg/5Y5WTUFUVVFCPK6K7O5UPNS2FU.jpeg)
:quality(70)/cloudfront-us-east-1.images.arcpublishing.com/cmg/I4R2BYSZNZBPHFZ4WFSLFEGYAE.jpeg)