This is the piece I’ve been reluctant to write for the past seven months. I lost my restaurant. No, I didn’t misplace it; it’s not like it’s a food truck I parked and forgot about. I’m known for my humor, often making light of serious situations just to keep from breaking down. But the reality is far from funny. I’ve watched others lose their businesses before, and while it was amusing then, now it’s my turn, and it’s a whole different story.
I’m writing this for two reasons. First, I fell off my metaphorical horse seven months ago, and I love the idea of getting back on it. The saying suggests that I need to reclaim my literary journey and confront the challenges ahead. I’ve let too much time pass since my fall, and I don’t want to become afraid of the ride. I may have lost one dream, but I won’t let it take away another.
Second, it feels selfish to keep my struggles to myself when sharing them might help someone else. I don’t have many secrets, but this one cuts deep. I feel embarrassed and angry, and I’ve lost some of my confidence. I know I’m not alone in this. If sharing my story can support someone else in dealing with their own loss, then I owe it to them to speak up.
So, let’s dive into my story.
If It Can Happen to Me, It Can Happen to Anyone
As a kid, I always envisioned owning an Indian fast-casual restaurant in Washington, DC. What little boy from rural southeast Texas doesn’t dream of that? I’ve been working in restaurants since I was 14, and I quickly learned that the best jobs in the industry are as a server or an owner. Everything in between can wear you down. Sure, being a server has its challenges, but at least you have the freedom to leave work behind at the end of the day and earn based on your skills. As an owner, you call the shots and, ideally, reap the rewards of your hard work.
But then there’s management, where you’re often underpaid and have to answer to someone who might not have a clue about the business. I spent years managing restaurants, juggling insane schedules for barely livable wages, often dreaming of either going back to being a server or finally achieving the coveted status of owner.
My last role was as a consultant for a small Indian restaurant that was struggling. The owners were looking to sell to a franchising consultant who thought it could be the next big thing. I worked hard to turn the business around, and for a while, it thrived. But then the consultant found a more appealing opportunity and pulled out, leaving the owners without a buyer.
Seeing their investment vanish, I proposed to buy the restaurant myself, using its future earnings to fund the purchase. Surprisingly, they agreed. Just like that, I went from facing homelessness to becoming a proud restaurant owner.
Over the next three years, I built my restaurant into a sustainable business, providing jobs for my team and fulfilling my dream. I was proud, even amidst financial struggles. But then, the pandemic hit.
The Pandemic’s Impact on My Restaurant
In March 2020, Washington, DC, shut down. My in-house sales plummeted by ninety percent, and catering came to a standstill. Suddenly, I was left with countless uncertainties: Would the shutdown last weeks or months? Would diners return? How long could I survive without a paycheck? After two and a half months of minimal sales, I made the heartbreaking decision to close my restaurant for good.
Did COVID-19 kill my restaurant? Essentially, yes, but it’s not that simple. We were already struggling, but we had a plan to recover. The pandemic merely crushed that plan. We just needed some time to get back on our feet, but instead, we faced an insurmountable challenge.
Here I am now, grappling with the loss of my identity as a restaurateur. It’s deeply painful. Falling down in front of others is humiliating, even if it’s not entirely your fault. I’ve been down for a long time, but now I’m trying to stand back up. I want to remind myself—and anyone else going through similar struggles—that professional failure doesn’t have to mean personal failure.
Thank you for joining me on this journey of self-discovery.
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Summary:
In this article, the author shares the painful experience of losing their restaurant due to the COVID-19 pandemic, discussing their journey from dreaming of ownership to facing harsh realities. They reflect on the embarrassment and anger that accompany such a loss, emphasizing the importance of sharing struggles to help others. The piece serves as both a personal narrative and a message of resilience.
Keyphrase: restaurant closure due to pandemic
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