Restaurants look to takeout orders to lessen blow of canceled New Year's Eve celebrations

Many restaurant and bar owners won't be celebrating New Year's Eve on Thursday night.

Posted 11:02 a.m. Dec 31, 2020 — Updated 11:48 p.m. Dec 31, 2020

Adam Owens

, WRAL anchor/reporter

RALEIGH, N.C. — Many restaurant and bar owners won't be celebrating New Year’s Eve on Thursday night.

"This New Year’s Eve is going to be a lot different. Yeah, definitely. it is so much different than any of the other years that we have ever dealt with," said Chris Powers, co-owner of Trophy Brewing, which has three sites in Raleigh.

Usually a boon for business, North Carolina's 10 p.m. curfew and restrictions on gathering during the coronavirus pandemic have eliminated most party plans in downtown Raleigh and elsewhere.

"The weirdest thing for all of us folks in the restaurant business is that we are going to be home at midnight," Powers said. "I have been in the restaurant business here in Raleigh for 20-plus years, and I have never been home at midnight on New Year's Eve."

Some restaurant owners estimate business could be down by half – or more – compared with last year.

"We will be lucky to do that, but we are shooting for that," Powers said of getting 50 percent of the usual New Year's Eve sales.

Restaurants get creative to make up lost New Year's Eve revenue

Trophy Brewing is offering takeout food and drink deals for people to celebrate at home, Powers said, adding that he appreciates the pre-orders customers have made.

"Instead of welcoming people into our restaurants, we are preparing them to have their own events at home," he said.

Anthony DeMarco, co-owner of DeMo's Pizzeria & Deli in the Glenwood South district, said his restaurant also is counting on pre-orders.

"We need it more than ever right now, especially at New Year’s Eve," DeMarco said. "We are hoping for a big night for deliveries. Hopefully, a lot of people [are] at home. Hopefully, they do not feel like cooking."

Still, he expects business will be off by about 40 percent from last year.

Dec. 31 is traditionally a bustling day in downtown Raleigh, as event coordinators and businesses plan for the arrival of big crowds. In years past, more than 40,000 people came out to watch the iconic Acorn Drop at midnight and the fireworks that followed.

On Thursday, however, the streets of downtown Raleigh were quiet and fairly empty.

"There are challenges ahead as well," said Kathleen Louis, vice president of engagement and business development for the Downtown Raleigh Alliance.

The booster organization posted an online list of ways people can still celebrate the New Year with local businesses.

"We encourage people to continue to support local. It is so important," Louis said. "We want to see our businesses make it through the next few months. We know the next few months are going to be really challenging."

DeMarco said 2021 can only get better.

"[We'll] wake up tomorrow and hope for a better year. That is all we can do," he said.

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