Coronavirus shutdown could lead to 20% of state restaurants never reopening, Massachusetts Restaurant Association says
Bob Luz, of the Massachusetts Restaurant Association, joined a group of state senators for a listening session Friday morning and painted a picture with data from his members that reflected turmoil within the industry. Luz said two different sources projected about 3,600 restaurants of the more than 16,000 in the state may close permanently in the aftermath of the coronavirus. Gov. Charlie Baker prohibited on-site dining on St. Patrick’s Day in an order that was meant to originally last three weeks. In the three months following, Luz said 54% of the restaurants in the state remain closed even with the state allowing takeout and delivery and outdoor dining with restrictions.