The Citiblog

Beyond the Pandemic: Izzie's Cheesesteaks
June 16, 2020, 11:17.29 pm ET

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Photo: Izzie's Cheesesteaks
As part of an ongoing series, Cititour is highlighting various establishments and how they navigated through one of the longest lockdowns in New York City history. This week we are speaking with the owner of Izzie's Cheesesteaks on the Lower East Side. "Izzie" along with her General Manager husband, David, and Executive Chef Kelly Lebrun have been operating the Philly cheesesteak joint since July of 2018.
This is Izzie's story:
Q: How have you navigated over the past few months? Did you close and reopen?

A: In the past few months, we have and still are under modified store hours. Closing early occasionally closing Tuesday’s (the slowest day of the week). We closed for about a week in the early month of March to restructure our business workflow. Our business basically had to figure out how to run operations without help or guidance. We are currently opened 7 days a week and we are adding an extra hour As the economy reopens with phase 1 and 2.


Q: How has your business been affected? Is it picking up?

A: Our business drastically saw a decline in revenue due to the mandatory indoor no dining/sitting restrictions on restaurants. We had to quickly restructure our work flow to online services and delivery. This had increased our potential to stay open but with hardship due to relying on third party apps for sales. We would pay extra just to promote our business to gain customers.


Q: What are your plans when the city allows outdoor dining?

A: We are in process of placing seats and table if allowed with the small sidewalk space, I’m seeing some challenges but hope to have that feature to bring customers to our restaurant and where customers can try to enjoy a hot meal.


Q: What does your menu look like now compared to before all of this? Are you able to offer the same amount of items?

A: Our small restaurant with a large variation of comfort food was limited to the food supplies due to the shortage of delivery services from our food vendors. Let’s just say there were times where we had to modify our menu and recipes due to uncontrollable factors that impacted us and ultimately impacting our loyal customers.


Q: What are your feelings about how the city has handled things?

A: Honestly, our small restaurant is struggling. If we don’t see relief from our city we may not be in business.


Q: Are you confident about the future?

A: As many would say it’s unprecedented times, with many uncertainties.


Q: What has been the response from your customers?

A: The majority state: “I’m glad you’re still open!”


Q: Overall, how would you describe the experience of the past few months.

A: As an entrepreneur we always have to be ahead of the time, reinvent, reorganize, reform and reorganize. I think I did more in the last months since we opened. It’s a true life experience for the theory of “survival of the fittest.”

Izzie's is currently open for takeout and delivery. Click here to order online.


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