Increasing number of “hidden business” restaurants at night “Difficult to refrain from doing this” Tokyo, May 14 6:28
In Tokyo, the state of emergency has been declared, and the Tokyo metropolitan government continues to request restaurants to open until 8 pm, but the number of stores that can open after 8 pm is increasing. There are many stores that are open to the public such as turning off the lights at the entrance, and the store says, "We need cash at hand to pay rent, so it is difficult to refrain from doing so."
In Tokyo, after the emergency was declared last month, most restaurants will be closed until the initial deadline of 6th of this month, or the business hours will be shortened to 8:00 pm at the request of the city. was doing.
However, after the large holidays, the number of stores that are open until midnight has increased, and even on the 13th, customers enter the taverns and bars near the downtown and the station after 8 pm.
Among them, the bar in the center of the city was closed from last month according to the request of the city, but it opened from 7th of this month, and it is still open until the morning as before.
Since it is a bar, it is difficult to open or take out during the daytime, and we decided that we could not take any more leave to prevent customers from leaving.
In addition, another restaurant that serves meat dishes has reduced the number of customers by half since last month due to the refraining from going out, and it is barely maintaining the store by continuing business even after 8 pm .
If you request a leave or a request to shorten business hours, the city will pay 500,000 yen or 1 million yen as a subsidy, but most stores do not have enough rent or personnel expenses.
However, since there are times when complaints are sent to the stores, many stores were open by turning off the lights at the entrance or closing the shutters after 8 o'clock.
Bar owner "cannot be closed anymore"
The bar in central Tokyo closed on its own after declaring an emergency, but it reopened on 7th of this month and is open until morning.
It means that in addition to refusing to enter a large number of people at the store, they take measures to prevent infection as much as possible, such as having them sit at intervals.
In the case of a bar, it is difficult to introduce daytime sales and takeout, so we decided that we could not take more days off to prevent customers from leaving.
The owner of the store said, "If you want to keep the request for self-restraint, you have to quit the store. It is not a problem of cash flow, it is difficult to take a rest for 2 months because the customers will leave. It is hard for one month. I cooperated with the self-restraint, so I decided to open the store after the holidays. "
Regarding the request for self-restraint, he said, "I feel that the extension was decided without being clear when it would be lifted. I would like you to show the outlook properly."
Restaurant "Operating while worrying about life"
The fact that restaurants that serve meat dishes in Tokyo have been reduced by half the usual amount since last month due to the spread of self-control, and there were days when sales were zero for three consecutive days.
For this reason, in addition to taking out and taking measures to prevent infection, such as keeping the distance between customers and thorough disinfection, we decided to continue business even after 8 pm.
The restaurant owner said, "Honestly, it is not enough to support the capital. It is difficult to keep self-restraint in order to maintain the store with employees."
On the other hand, he said, "I'm worried that I shouldn't spread the infection and I'm afraid of the virus, but I'm still worrying about my business so that I can live."
Customer "I want to support a familiar store"
A man who was drinking at an izakaya in Tokyo around 10 pm said, "Every restaurant is in a difficult situation, so I would like to drink and support at this familiar restaurant. I feel that hygiene measures are also solid. I came for a drink. "