08/29/2023
Many customers have been wondering what happened to Pop’s and why we closed.
To give you a background, Pop’s Diner has been around, on the same location, for over sixty years!
I have been the owner of Pop’s for the past 13yrs.
There are many reasons why we closed.
1. Lack of RELIABLE workers.
When George, our head waiter passed away, it was hard to maintain a consistent and professional staff, leaving us to rely on the current younger work force that has different work ethics that do not conform with a Diner setting.
2. Ran out of $.
During the pandemic we survived with government grants and government loans, despite popular belief, the small grants were given as a way to get small businesses to also take out huge government loans which now has to be paid back with interest.
3. City and state using small businesses as their ATM.
The cost of having the Health Dept inspections, the Building Dept inspections, Sanitation Dept inspections, Dept Of Transportation for bicycle delivery inspections, Fire Dept inspections, lawyers fees, court fees etc..and constantly being harassed, fined by making up new rules, and constantly moving the goal post, was too much to bear financially as a small business.
4. Rent was too high.
Landlord refused to adjust the rent for Pops or a possible new owner to the restaurant, even with decreased foot traffic throughout the pandemic and til now, making it near impossible to sell a store that is not profitable.
5. Frivolous litigations.
Constantly being a target of a frivolous lawsuit. Wether workers or customers.
6. High cost in supplies and overhead.
During the pandemic and til recently the eggs went from $30/case to $130/case but we were not able to charge an absorbent amount of money for the same breakfast. Electric/gas was around $2k-$3k/month so on.
7. Safety.
The area is no longer like it used to be, thanks to NYC lawmakers, NYC is now a s**t show. We had many issues with vandals, theft, and break ins.
8. Exhausted.
We bought into the “essential worker” idea. We did everything that was necessary to survive throughout the pandemic, to provide for the neighborhood, and that burnt us out because “normal” never came. Only to be left out in the cold, without a business, in a mountain of unforgivable government debt that has my primary household on collateral for the next 30yrs.
Maybe it was their plan from the beginning🤔..
PS: For obvious reasons this will be our last post. THANK YOU to all of our loyal customers that have had Pops in their whole lives.
I believe this issue is bigger than just Pops. It starts from the top. Small businesses have no current real representation in government when we are the backbone of this country. Soon, we will only have the option to eat at McDonald’s
