COVID-19 'Wasn't As Bad' For Long Beach Restaurant LB Social

LONG BEACH, NY — LB Social is a popular restaurant on West Park Avenue for six years. But there was nothing chef and owner Matt Hisiger could do to prepare for the last year.

While COVID-19 came ashore in Long Beach last spring, Hisiger was forced to close his dining room to customers. By using takeout and creating an outdoor area, Hisiger found new ways to bring his food to hungry folks from the neighborhood.

"It wasn't as bad as I thought it was going to be," Hisiger told Patch.

After three months of a full shutdown, Hisiger got the go-ahead to start welcoming guests —outside only.

"These were avenues I never really drove down before," he said. "We had never done take out before. I was actually anti-takeout because I didn't think my kitchen could handle the extra business."

The outdoor option was embraced from the start as the only way to serve customers. But, they didn't return in droves last summer as the unknown impact of COVID-19 reduced the clientele. Plus, Long Beach was restricted to residents only.

"We basically lost all of our tourism," Hisiger said. "Although the beach clubs were very busy."

To fill the hole in LB Social's bottom line, Hisiger's takeout business exploded throughout the summer of 2020. Part of that success came from an updated menu, including the creation of a fried chicken dinner that feeds 10.

Those efforts helped keep his restaurant in the black, even though he did apply for the first round of Paycheck Protection Program (PPP) loans from the federal government. A grant recently was made available to small businesses, but Hisiger did not participate.

"The humane side of me just feels that there are businesses and people out there that really need it," he said.

However, there is one area where Hisiger's eatery hasn't recovered.

"The biggest thing that I lost last year and straight up through now is, I'm across the street from the Long Island Railroad," Hisiger said. "I miss the train traffic. I miss the 5, 6 o'clock rush of people getting off the train and coming out for dinner and drinks."

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