Mark Gleason, owner of Gleason’s Place bar, and James Mermigis, attorney, explain on ‘Fox & Friends.’
This is an unofficial transcript meant for reference. Accuracy is not guaranteed.
Steve some New Jersey,
Steve some New Jersey,
restaurants, have been open for
indoor dining at twenty five percent capacity
since the beginning of this
month of September,
but our next guest still says:
twenty five percent is not enough.
He is a sports bar owner
planning to sue Governor Murphy
of New Jersey and is working to
get other businesses to join the
lawsuit.
The owner of greasons place.
Mark Gleason joins us now, along
with his attorney James Good
Morning, to you
doing, okay,
but Mark you know. Finally, I
live in New Jersey as well.
Finally, the governor said: okay,
you know its been long enough.
Now. Restaurants can open at twenty five percent
capacity,
but twenty five percent capacity does not make
sense to you.
Does it
well? Steve Trn lies the cru
of the matter.
The question I would ask ask all
the good friends watching fox
and friends this morning, as you
are putting your shoes on, and
drinking coffee having bills at
the end of the month, doesnt
work for twenty five percent of what you
normally make economically
viable.
I think you know to a large
decree. Most people tell you im
not going to do that at twenty five percent.
Its referred insolvency is what
it is
Steve people are thinking, they
are finally open.
Twenty five percent is better than no percent,
but you are not open right now,
because it does not make sense
for you to turn on the lights,
bring everybody back in pay
them restock every couple of
days, because you are only at
twenty five percent.
What is the magic number for
Governor Murphy? If is he
watching? We know he watches
this, show
fifty percent seventy five percent.
What is the break even point?
I think, at very minimum fifty percent.
We also have to remember coming
off the heels of zero percent.
You are not in a position to
operate effectively,
so you know its not its,
not a quick fix,
its a long haul process
and part one of the bench
marks.
You know what numbers are we
striving towards as far as at
least we can anticipate what
you know is in our future,
Steve Sure, James. You are
representing a number of
restaurants and bars in New York
and New Jersey
and its a big number.
I know you have got. I think
you signed up close to one hundred
businesses already,
but more would like to sign on
to these lawsuits, but they dont
for a very good reason.
Good morning,
the biggest reason a lot of
these restaurants in New Jersey
do not want to sign up, is they
fear, retaliation from the
governor of New Jersey?
They are afraid that if they
sign up- and they are vocal about
it- that they might lose their
liquor license or might lose
their american tile license or
any other license.
They are fearful
thats why they are reluctant to
sign on to this lawsuit
Steve. The thing is James, as
you know here in the New York
City, New Jersey area this
morning, its kind of chilly
its not going to be too long
before outdoor dining, doesnt
work anymore, fort many
restaurants who are doing that,
and that means they have got to
rely on twenty five percent
right now. Some restaurants have
people out at the curb and they
have twenty five percent indoors,
so that helps a little, but still
it is not sustainable
right, James,
not sustainable.
If you look at the weather in
the New York City, Tri State area,
its going to be in the 40s over
the weekend,
no one wants to sit and dine
outside in cold weather.
Twenty five percent is just not viable.
There is not one restaurant in
New Jersey that even pays their
bills with twenty five percent indoor capacity,
small businesses to at least be
viable and pay their billings
James, real quick before you
go
im sure your waiters
waitresses and you know your
books. Everybody calls you from
time to time.
What do you tell them?
Was that question for Mark
Steve, yeah mark your
employees call and say whats
going on.
Please help us.
My employees are out of this
world fantastic.
They completely understand the
inviability of what we are
dealing with here. As far as you
know, the economics of it
them being savvy, they get it,
but they are also chomping at
the bit.
They are productive people. They
want to work and feed their
family
thats it
Steve absolutely.
They can use some help from
Washington, but Washington seems
to be playing politics with any
sort of relief at this point
Hark Gleason and James. Thank
you very much.
Thank you.
We appreciate the opportunity
Steve. Absolutely
we did reach out to the.
Transcript generated on 2020-09-17.