Despite a sold-out crowd already on the books for St. Patrick’s Day – a lucrative 500-person event – Ring made the difficult decision to shutter the business citing personal responsibility to act.
“We have a moral obligation,” he adds. “We are restaurants; this is where it’s going to spread. Sanitize all you want but it’s coming and it’s going to be a percentage of our population whether we like it or not. And I don’t want to be part of it.”
The closure, he added, would likely last eight weeks, though that could change.
His staff of 55, unfortunately, will need to go on unemployment.
“There is no insurance for this,” he explains. “Everybody will have to go on unemployment and then our rates are going to skyrocket.”
Ring said that just today, his kitchen cooked 250 pounds of corned beef in advance of the festivities, food that will go to staffers and food banks.
“Hopefully, I lead by example and those that can, should.”
Nighttown is located at 12383 Cedar Rd. in Cleveland Heights (216-795-0550).
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This article appears in Mar 11-17, 2020.
Wow. Kudos to you Mr. Ring! This is obviously the hardest and most expensive thing an operation like yours could go through. Your genuine concern and commitment to your customers and to the community are incredibly responsible and generous. I have been a customer for so many, many years, and I will make it a point to come back extensively when you reopen.
Yeah to heck with inducing panic and screwing your employees,by the time unemployment kicks in you will be open again. Way to spread unnecessary fear.
UNemployment kicks in after 5 work days of furlough. As mentioned in the article, when employees claim against a business, the business sees increased state UNemployment insurance rates in the future. The more employees claim it and the longer the duration, the more it goes up in future periods.
This does no help for Mr. Ring, he will take a very large financial hit.
Stop with the fake outrage because he’s doing the responsible thing for our community, however painful it may be. But don’t insinuate he is gaining anything by furloughing his staff.
There is something else behind this. Schools aren’t even closed for 8 weeks. It’s not at this level of seriousness. You could of simply invested in hand sanitizer placement. Lol 🤔
I have been to nightown. There is no way yo.manage a three foot distance. When this is over, and it will be, zi will make sure I am back dining. Thank you.
Dear Mr. Ring,
You made a very tough call, but it was the right one. As a resident of Cuyahoga County, I applaud your decision…for yourself, your employees and for the community. I am so grateful that your employees and the local food banks will help to be supported by your further decisions.
Thank you,
Marge DeMell