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| BierWax, a bar in Ridgewood, Queens, is closed two nights a week as it is not open during January. Juan Arredondo |
Her bar owner, Yahaira Gil Maestro, brews beer in New York City to support her customers' health goals.
But as her business owner, she's feeling a little more conflicted about Dry Her January, the month of spontaneous drinking that's been prevalent in recent years.
The month became an overall financial burden for her, as many of her clients stopped drinking at the same time.
"I'm happy to support her dry June. Our business would be better off taking a hit during that time," she laughed.
She is the owner of BierWax, a bar known for its collection of records, in her Prospect Herr Her Heights in Brooklyn and her Ridgewood in Queens. There, business was so slow that Gil Maestro had to fire one of her bartenders, cut another bartender's hours, and close Mondays and Tuesdays this month.
Gil Maestro's Brooklyn store is also seeing fewer customers. It's still too early to know January sales figures, but she believes the Brooklyn store's earnings will be worse than last January's 17% plunge.
According to data research firm Morning Hermit, 15% of American adults planned to attend Dry Herr in January of this year. People who go temporarily sober have great intentions and are often concerned about their health, the economy, or both. Still, the economic impact can be significant for small businesses across cities.
"Even a few thousand dollars can have a very big impact." She said that it can determine if an owner can afford to pay rent and employees.
New York City bars have been battling Dreyer January for years, but they continue to respond to the aftermath of the pandemic. Last January, Omicron was outraged. As the infection spread among the employees, bars were closed and many, drunk or not, stayed home for fear of getting sick or getting sick.
According to The Morning Consult, 73% of people who took dry here in January quit drinking to save money.
Zach Kinney, founder of Kings His County His Brewers His Collective, a brewery in Bushwick, Brooklyn, said:
Kinney estimates that beer sales so far this month have dropped by 15 to 20 percent.
Instead of replacing two of his employees who have left the brewery in recent weeks, he has asked other employees to fill in the gaps.
He is also considering exporting his beer to other countries, shipping to China during Chinese New Year and Chile in the summer.
East Her at her Brooklyn brewery and distillery Interborough Her Spirits and Ales, her business is slowing "more than in any month of her life," says her owner, Laura Diaz. says. obtain.
But Interboro has come to reflect demand. This is one of many businesses in the city offering non-alcoholic beverages to appeal to more people, especially this month.
Earlier this month, Bushwick karaoke bar Cobra Club posted a non-alcoholic menu on Instagram. Social, billiards, comedy shows, karaoke.
Anetta Klencner, owner of Roebling Liquor in Williamsburg, Brooklyn, said the liquor store didn't have this option, saying, "Liquor stores in New York can't sell non-alcoholic beverages." Paddy field. “We are so restricted by this draconian law that there is no way we can compete.”
She estimates her store sales have fallen 10% of her own this month and is trying to make up for the loss by selling wine to her event planners, who host her weddings and corporate events. . January may be dry, but the world keeps moving and special events are not dry.
Kenner doesn't mind January's arbitrary rule, she said.
But Gary Clegg, owner of his restaurant in East His Harlem, appreciates and dedicates himself to the dry January weather. what is his solution? He said the first two weeks of January would take him some time to close his New American spot, his Allison.
"January is a good time to reset," he said.
But this month, a disgruntled industry insider received good news from her girlfriend, Katie Kennedy, head bartender at Contento, a Peruvian restaurant in Harlem.
"They were sitting next to each other at a bar the other day and they said they were doing 'Dry January,'" she said. "They finally ordered wine."
