54 Bellevue Restaurants Have Closed Since Pandemic Began: Report

Bellevue WA

09 December, 2020

11:01 PM

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BELLEVUE, WA — At least 2,369 restaurants, pubs and bars have closed in Washington during the coronavirus pandemic, according to a survey released this week. Bellevue suffered the fifth-highest number of closures in a single city, at 54, the report found. The Washington Hospitality Association tracked closures across the state from March, when pandemic restrictions first began, through September. The WHA represents more than 6,000 hotels, restaurants and other hospitality businesses in Washington. To assemble its findings, the organization said it checked in with more than 15,000 establishments across the state. The report was released shortly after Gov. Jay Inslee announced an extension to statewide restrictions to combat coronavirus transmission, including bans on indoor dining, until Jan. 4. King County accounted for more than 1,000 of the state's closures, and more than 600 were in the city of Seattle, according to the survey. Here are the cities and counties with the most closures during the pandemic By county: King: 1,023 closuresSnohomish: 258 closures Pierce: 224 closuresSpokane: 121 closures Clark: 102 closures By city: Seattle: 624 closuresTacoma: 103 closuresEverett: 75 closuresSpokane: 82 closuresBellevue: 54 closures The report also sorted the closures by category and whether they were part of local or national chains, or operating on their own. The survey found independent restaurants represented an overwhelming majority of closures, accounting for more than 1,800 of the total. Top closures by "menu concept" (statewide) Coffee & desserts: 594 closuresAsian cuisine: 429 closuresAmerican general cuisine: 423 closuresMexican cuisine: 178 closuresAmerican/other specific: 181 closures In a news release, the WHA also included local statistics from the National Restaurant Association, which found more than 100,000 U.S. restaurant closures in September. That survey found consumer spending at Washington restaurants remained well below normal in October, with sales down about 37 percent on average from 2019. Just three percent said they expected sales to improve over the next three months, and 46 percent feared they would be out of business in six months without additional relief funds from the federal government. When it comes to employees, 92 percent of Washington restaurant owners said fewer people were on staff, and 65 percent had shed more than 20 percent of their workforce. Another 70 percent of restaurant owners said more layoffs were likely in the coming months, according to the survey. Public health precautions are expected to be necessary well into 2021, experts say, even with a vaccine on the horizon and after Inslee's latest restrictions expire. In recent weeks, the governor has announced millions in new grants for struggling businesses, but state and local officials have repeatedly called for substantial federal assistance to help prevent more closures and aid those already unemployed.