COMMERCE IN THE TIME OF CORONAVIRUS -- Part 6

Main Streets, Business Improvement Districts and Downtowns Lead the Way

Fuller, through Barlington and the separate Madroom Hospitality, has invested in many of the restaurants, bars, shops and cultural activities he and his partners have recruited to Little Havana.

So, he is feeling the impact not just as a landlord but as a business owner that employees cooks, bartenders, waiters, bussers and other hospitality staff.

The Ball and Chain, a food and beverage hotspot that has been written about in the New York Times, has retained 25 percent of its staff. 

Another Madroom concept, the revived historic Taquerias El Mexicano, also is operating with a reduced crew.

“We never had relationships with all the Uber Eats and Postmates delivery companies,” he said, noting that onsite dining and drinking drove revenue at the two Calle Ocho fixtures.

“But we decided to stay open to provide as much employment as we could (via curbside pickup and delivery.)