THE SAUGUS ADVOCATE – Friday, March 27, 2020 Page 9 COVID-19 hits top Route 1 dining spot hard Kowloon Restaurant lays off 90 percent of its workers By Mark E. Vogler E arlier this month, the Kowloon Restaurant had about 220 total employees working – half of them full-time. But about 90 percent of them have been laid off since Governor Charlie Baker issued an order last week (March 17) that bans consumption of food or drink in Massachusetts restaurants and bars at least through April 6. With Kowloon’s business restricted to takeout and delivery, the restaurant was forced to reduce its staff to about two dozen workers for takeout and delivery service indefinitely, according to Kowloon’s General Manager, Bob Wong. “Business had already dropped off 50 percent in the last two weeks (up until the ban had gone into effect),” Wong told The Saugus Advocate in a recent interview. “It’s heart-breaking to say ‘Goodbye’ to so many loyal employees who have worked for us for years. The average is 15 to 20 years. And we have many who have worked here for 30 to 40 years,” he said. About half of the employees work full-time. Wong said the restaurant was trying to carry then,” he said. “But that’s not the reality of the situation. Business won’t be at 100 percent when we reopen. People will still be scared. There will still be restrictions in place. The virus won’t be over. If we got 10 to 20 percent of the business back, we can only bring 10 to 20 percent of our employees back. If you don’t do that and look at the big picture, it could really hurt your business.” CUSTOMERS IN DEMAND: With the fallout from COVID-19 creating a huge drop in Kowloon Restaurant’s business, the parking lot looks empty these days at Route 1’s most famous dining destination. (Saugus Advocate Photo by Mark E. Vogler) them on the payroll through the end of the month. Feeling the impact of 1,200 empty seats The restaurant makes about 80 percent of its money off its dine-in business. But those 1,200 seats will be empty for several weeks or perhaps even months, until state officials determine it’s safe for restaurants and bars to reopen sit-down service again. “If we knew this was going to be a four-week thing, I’d carry the month’s salary and take care of them so they don’t lose any money,” Wong said. “But the problem is the uncertainty of things. It’s when we get everyone back to work – and that will probably be a year – because of the unknown factors, every business can’t pay everybody.” “You have to have a healthy business for people to come back to. Right now, we’re kind of straddling between our employees and making sure we have a healthy business. A lot of employees might think that they will be able to come back after April 7 if the ban ends Confronting the biggest challenge of his career Wong, 65, has been working at the family business since he was 15. He is a co-owner of the popular Route 1 dining destination with his five siblings – Andy, Bob, Linda, Stanley and State Representative Donald Wong (R-Saugus) – who took over the business from their parents. The restaurant, which has been run by three generations of the Wong family, is the biggest and most famous Route 1 restaurant. It also sits on what is considered the most restaurant-competitive stretch of road anywhere in Massachusetts and across the country. Bob Wong calls the current COVID-19 health crisis the biggest challenge he’s faced in his career in the restaurant business. “I have never seen anything like it and I don’t know how any business can survive it if they have a lot of debt,” he said. “It’s going to be challenging for us. It’s going to be challenging for every business on Route 1. Hopefully, we will all come out of it together.” Ginny Lecaroz, Owner Saugus, MA 339-206-1970 missgspetsittingservice@gmail.com Fully insured Fully certied WE WORK FOR YOU! * Have your car repaired by Real Manufacturer Certiified Technicians * An I-CAR GOLD CLASS SHOP Highest Certificate in the Repair Industry * Premier Insurance Co. Collision Repair Shop for Geico, Liberty Mutual, Metlife, Progressive and more! * Over 30 Years of putting families back on the Road Safe & Fast! * ATLAS Stands Behind All Repairs with a Limited Lifetime Warranty 1605 North Shore Road, Revere * 781-284-1200 Visit us at: www.AtlasAutobody.com or call (781) 284-1200 to schedule your appointment today!
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