More pandemic closures, temporary and permanent
The lingering strain of the pandemic and related effects including rising prices and labor shortages continue to plague the
restaurant industry. Last weekend, Tala American Bistro in Latham announced
it had too few service employees to staff in-house dining and so would offer takeout only for Friday and Saturday.
Management said on social media, “We’ve seen a lot over the past 10 years, but this takes the cake.”
The following day, however, the restaurant said it was closed until further notice.
The Point Italian Kitchen & Cocktails in
Albany went through similar shuffling, at first saying on Friday afternoon that it would be closed Friday night, adding “Due to an unexpected staffing shortage, we are unable to maintain the integrity of our menu items.” The temporary closure was later extended to Saturday.
It reopened Tuesday after its regular days off, Sunday and Monday, management said.
Prime at Saratoga National in Saratoga Springs, a mainstay of the racing crowd, took Monday off this week and will again on Aug. 23 because of staff shortages caused by a COVID -19 outbreak, owner Angelo Mazzone said. The restaurant is limiting reservations and trying to seat most patrons outside, Mazzone said.
In Averill Park, Westfall Station Bistro, which was revived under a new owner a few days before the pandemic shutdown was imposed in March 2020, has closed permanently. The sudden announcement came on the afternoon of Aug. 12, effective immediately.
The restaurant was owned by Marla Ortega, who previously owned Illium Cafe & Bistro in Troy, which she closed in May of 2020.
Its spinoff, Illium Bistro at Pine Haven Country Club in Guiderland, remains open for regular days and hours, 11 a.m. to 9 p,m. Tuesday to Saturday, 11 a.m. to 7 p.m. Sunday,
closed Monday.