‘ Trying to get through this pandemic’
Downtown Bridgeport fights to survive in COVID economy
BRIDGEPORT — Earlier this summer, as other businesses and attractions throughout the city and state figured out how to re- open during the COVID- 19 pandemic, Hugh Hallinan concluded his could not.
“The main reason is we can’t make anything work financially with the seating restrictions or capacity as they are,” said Hallinan, who runs the Downtown Cabaret Theater, referring to health guidelines aimed at preventing the spread of the novel coronavirus.
For example, the theater would need to reduce crowds from the normal 300 to 110 at best, but likely closer to 70 people per show.
Not to mention the fact that it is unclear when Connecticut will allow indoor performing arts to resume as officials try to gradually re- open parts of the economy while avoiding a rise in infections.
Hallinan canceled his 2020 season entirely.
“So for me it makes a lot more sense to just try and reserve what resources you have, not try and push out false hope,” Hallinan said. “We’re just going to exhaust ourselves and set ourselves up for an
inevitable disappointment if we keep going, ‘ Maybe next month. Maybe next month.’ ”
A quarter of a year into the COVID pandemic — and two months since stayat- home orders were gradually lifted — the downtown of Connecticut’s largest municipality, where the economy was fragile in good times, is muddling through.
Nightlife venues like the Downtown Cabaret Theater, the Stress Factory comedy club and BLVD Karaoke, remain shuttered, awaiting Gov. Ned Lamont to resume re- opening plans paused July 6 after many other parts of the nation saw coronavirus cases spike.
Lauren Coakley Vincent, president of the Downtown Special Services District, an organization that promotes the neighborhood, said this week that out of 130 “ground- floor” entities — many of those restaurants and small retailers — 107 have resumed limited operations.
“We’re OK,” was her assessment. “Particularly the food businesses have been able to figure out a formula with outdoor dining that has allowed them to maintain and stay open,” she said.
During the first few weeks of the statewide shutdown, restaurants were limited to take out and delivery. Open air table service was allowed starting May 20, with very limited indoor seating returning June 17.
Vincent said she was aware of a handful of permanent closures, including Bean N’ Batter, the wafflethemed cafe started last year. The owners could not be reached for comment, but Bean’s phone number was disconnected.
“The remaining 20 ( ground- floor businesses) are working on plans to reopen when it’s most sustainable,” Vincent said.
The DSSD and Led By Us, a Bridgeport- based urban revitalization consultant, this week also announced distribution of $ 2,500 grants to a dozen independently- owned businesses to help with re- opening planning, and $ 1,000 grants to the non- profit City Lights Gallery and Cook & Grow.
Sponsors included the city, People’s United Bank, which is headquartered downtown, the PSEG company, operator of the gasfired power plant in the South End, and United Illuminating and Southern Connecticut Gas.
“This grant is just the beginning of the support and resources we will need for these businesses to stay open,” Natalie Pryce, Led by Us’ director of business development, said in a statement.
Also recently Mayor Joe Ganim’s administration extended the suspension of parking meter fees and enforcement through Labor Day.
“It’ll be a financial hit for the city, but nothing compared to the financial hit businesses have taken in trying to get through this pandemic,” Ganim announced. “At a time when everyone has added a list of safety precautions and regulations to their daily operations, we will continue to do what we can to remove any hurdles that may impact customer and business experiences.”
Val Fernandes, owner of Funchal Americana Buffet, said free parking “helps” but wants City Hall to do more to encourage visitors downtown. He suggested mounting an advertising campaign and even funding “coupons” for patrons.
“It’s very tough. There’s hardly nobody coming down now,” Fernandes said.
Funchal benefited from an emergency federal grant and also was on the DSSD’s list of recipients for reopening aid. Still, Fernandes admitted, while he has tried to maintain a positive attitude, “We cannot stay open like this.”
Though offices and courts are again active, many workers are still doing their jobs from home, Vincent said. And Fernandes said he believes that situation has had an impact on his and others’ customer base.
The nearby Golden Hill Street courthouse, for example, re- opened Monday after four months, but for a limited number of cases.
“When you talk about the typical daytime worker population, those numbers are still fairly low,” Vincent said. But, she added, there are around 2,000 downtown residents.
Kelvin Ayala is a partner in Led by Us and also operates Moe’s Burger Joint downtown. He has held off on re- opening the latter.
“I rely so strongly on the lunch crowd and the business crowd,” Ayala said. “( And) I cannot accommodate outside dining. ... Staying closed I’m conserving energy and money.”
Ayala said he was very concerned about his fellow restaurateurs and entrepreneurs: “I know numbers in and out. I wonder how some of these people are able to make it right now.”
Fernandes also speculated that, despite Connecticut’s seeming success in containing COVID, the public is still wary.
“I think people are afraid,” he said. “People are being cautious, I guess.”
In early July Hallinan issued a survey to gauge how the Downtown Cabaret Theater’s audience felt about re- opening.
“They made it clear they wanted to come back, but aren’t until there’s a ( COVID) vaccine,” Hallinan said. “That was overwhelming.”
The Stress Factory, with encouragement from the Ganim administration, was preparing to host shows earlier this month, arguing as a full- service restaurant they fell under Phase 2 guidelines. But the state Department of Economic and Community Development said live, indoor entertainment — including comedians — remained prohibited until Phase 3.
Danny Roach, a Ganim aide, said efforts are underway to find a spot where the Stress Factory could host comedians outdoors.
Owner Vinnie Brand has successfully erected a large tent outside of his other club in New Brunswick, New Jersey, but does not have similar space in downtown Bridgeport.
“We’re gonna get Connecticut open soon,” Brand recently pledged on social media.
Benny Rivera, owner of BLVD Karaoke, which launched in early 2019, said when Lamont gives the OK, he is ready to re- open.
“We don’t have a date. That’s the problem,” Rivera said. “We did all the preventative measures. We have disposable microphone covers each person is assigned. Sanitizer stations. Disposable cups instead of glassware. We’re prepared.”
Rivera continued, “We’re just really, really worried this is going to keep dragging out. If it keeps dragging out, unfortunately, I don’t think we’re going to be able to make it.”
But with the timetable for approval and production of a vaccine uncertain — pharmaceutical giant Pfizer, which has a location in Groton, may seek regulatory approval in October— Rivera’s fear of “dragging out” is downtown’s reality.
“We’ve hit a period of sort of a ‘ new normal.’ As fall and winter approach, that will be a new and different challenge,” Vincent said, noting the colder weather’s impact on outdoor dining in particular. “We will need to innovate and shift again.”