Nom Wah Tea Parlor
An establishment that recently celebrated its 100th year anniversary, Nom Wah has been serving the Chinatown community with delicious and reasonably affordable dumplings for several generations. Along with the rest of the restaurant industry, Nom Wah suffered a great loss of revenue during the quarantine season of the pandemic. It is a challenge to set up permanent roadside dining, due to the landscape of Doyer Street, where Nom Wah is situated. So Wilson Tang, Co-Owner of Nom Wah has pivoted to expanding both take-out and also providing frozen dumplings that you can order in bulk from the restaurant and heat up at home. Nom Wah also helps support the Open Streets program on Pell and Doyers Streets.
Harlem Public
The Harlem Public opened in 2012 with the goal of providing quality burgers and beers for the neighborhood. A thriving local spot, the Harlem Public has become a staple institution in the area. Led by co-owner Lauren Lynch, who also co-owns the neighboring At The Wallace and The Honeywell, these three businesses have been part of the revitalization of Upper Harlem. During the pandemic, Lauren was one of the first owners to utilize curbside dining at her own business. Subsequently, she used her role as a prominent member in her community and strong ties to other restaurateurs to organize support for year-round curbside dining which, as result of political activism, has now been signed permanently into law. Lauren also advised local politicians on the issues the industry was facing and how city, state and the federal government could help. Lauren is a leader and great friend to uptown restaurants, and restaurant workers. And Harlem Public leads the way in curbside dining and innovation.
La Morada
La Morada is a Mexican restaurant located in Mott Haven in the Bronx. It serves authentic Oaxacan food and is acknowledged as one of the best Oaxacan restaurants in the city. At the start of the pandemic, La Morada started a GoFundMe and used the money to essentially turn the restaurant’s kitchen into a soup kitchen, producing enough food in order to feed members of the surrounding community. Through the GoFundMe campaign, as well as ReThinkFood and donations from chefs at high-end restaurants, La Morada feeds local people in shelters and others adversely affected by the pandemic. Despite their notable contributions to their community, they are ineligible for PPP funds because of their immigration status, being that they are undocumented family-owned. La Morada has used their support in the community to extend support to others. They have chosen to repurpose their restaurant during this time, a perfect demonstration of mutual aid, in which the community gives to a small business and the business gives back.