The Impact of the Covid-19 Pandemic on Small Business Restaurants in Center City, Philadelphia, PA

This paper will attempt to provide restaurant owners and legislators alike a look into what restaurants in Philadelphia did to stay alive during the pandemic. As we grow our understanding of which decisions were crucial for ensuring success, we will also begin to understand which decisions were detrimental, neutral, or negative for restaurants’ success. We will assess the outcome of these decisions by asking restaurants which decisions taken were most successful in helping their business stay afloat. Finally, better comprehension of the hurdles imposed on restaurants by the government should inform future policy decisions in a way which maximizes public safety while acknowledging that there is an optimal number of COVID-19 cases that cannot be avoided without ruining the economy.