If we ultimately do receive any money from this program it will certainly not guarantee our success. Our main focus continues to be in attempting to save our businesses, and as many jobs of our furloughed employees as possible.Īs yet, we have not received a penny of the PPP funds that are supposed to be available to small businesses, while we read headlines every day about publicly traded corporations, private institutions and other wealthy organizations receiving millions of dollars in funds from the government. Despite all of this, my siblings and I are still not planning to cut-and-run. It has also been disheartening for me to read online commentary about how “greedy” business owners just want to put profit ahead of people’s safety. But the folks I have spoken with all tell me that they are losing money, a lot of money, even if they’re providing take-out service. You have to be an optimist to stay in this business for any length of time. Many restaurant owners are trying to put as positive a face on this situation as possible. Fixed costs do not vanish just because a business is closed. Since the closure, we have been rapidly burning through personal savings. Obviously, we were ready and willing to do whatever we could to help avoid such a disastrous situation. But, the painful reality is that not only did this closure immediately eliminate our sole source of income, but it also eliminated the income of over 100 employees – people that we feel a deep sense of responsibility for. The “models” at the time suggested that the lives of millions of Americans could potentially be at stake. We certainly did not want to see our hospitals overrun. We were told that this must be done in order to help “flatten the curve.” Okay. The government response was the forced closure of many businesses across the country and around the world. Of course, we had always assumed that one day we’d be able to retire, or at least semi-retire, and turn the reigns of leadership over to trusted members of our management team. My siblings and I no longer wait tables or sling drinks, but we continue to be involved in the daily operation of our businesses from behind the scenes. As the business grew, so did our extended family, because that’s what the staff and patrons of establishments like ours ultimately become. We have enjoyed hosting one of the most diverse clienteles of any bar that I’ve ever been to, and I think that’s what I have loved the most about it. We’ve become part of the fabric of Atlanta. Over the years, we’ve built a loyal following of wonderful people who truly appreciate our efforts. We’ve always done our best to treat our employees and customers with kindness, consideration and respect. The funding we were able to scrape together at the time was minimal, so we opened on a shoestring budget, and put in years of hard work before we would turn a profit. I founded The Vortex with my brother and sister over 28 years ago. People not only want to gather together, they need to.
While some may not see this function as “essential,” I can personally attest to its psychological and emotional value. They are cherished places within a community where folks gather, share stories, celebrate triumphs and commiserate over tragedies. By a strict definition, there may be some technical differences between bars, cantinas, pubs and taverns, but I have always thought the purpose of these establishments was somewhat romantic.
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