- June 13, 2021
- Posted by: Stratford Team
- Category: Business
STATEN ISLAND, NY. — Edward Gomez — who has been in the restaurant business for more than 20 years and owns four eateries on Staten Island — has gone back to his roots: he dons an apron, pours drinks and waits tables these days.
That’s because he can’t seem to hire back enough employees — particularly wait staff — after he was shuttered during the coronavirus (COVID-19) pandemic.
Gomez — who owns Da Noi restaurants in Grasmere and Travis and the Cargo Cafe and the Burrito Shop/Salad Junkie in St. George — said that while he never officially closed his eateries, he had to reduce his staff from 60 to 10 people when the pandemic prohibited indoor dining.
“I really kept it open for those people who really needed it, because they weren’t getting help from unemployment,” said Gomez.
And since he’s been able to open back up to diners, he said he’s had a difficult time rehiring his staff.
Gomez — who owns Da Noi restaurants in Grasmere and…
