Even as they await a new round of federal aid, independent restaurants continue to shut their doors

This is the latest in an occasional series looking at independent restaurants closing their doors permanently due to the pandemic.

More than 100 current and former CEOs of large businesses on Monday sent a letter to congressional leaders, urging them to support “significant and sustained support” for the country’s small businesses.

“Most small businesses don’t have enough cash in the bank to weather more months of reduced revenue and customer traffic,” the letter, signed by Starbucks CEO Kevin Johnson, El Pollo Loco CEO Bernard Acoca and Tom Bene, CEO of the National Restaurant Association, among others, said. “To survive until a vaccine is widely available, millions of small businesses will require longer-term support from the federal government.”

Also on Monday, the Independent Restaurant Coalition advocacy group released a video, narrated by the actor Morgan Freeman, calling on Congress to pass the Restaurants Act, which would establish a $120 billion grant program for small restaurants, bars, food trucks and caterers.

Absent federal aid, the group said, as many as 85% of independent restaurants could permanently close.

Here is our latest installment of independent restaurants, many of which have operated for decades, that have recently announced permanent closures amid the coronavirus pandemic. 

The Tannersville Inn, which has operated in the Pocono Mountains for nearly 175 years, will not be able to survive the effects of the pandemic. The restaurant first opened as The Tannersville Hotel in 1847, according to local media reports, and was a popular tourist stop that served American comfort foods.

“Sadly, the Inn will not be able to reopen its doors to the public,” the owners posted on Facebook. “With continuing restrictions limiting capacity including bar service, entertainment, groups and parties for birthdays, showers, rehearsals and more, there is no clear path to the bottom line let alone recover losses suffered to date.”

White tablecloth Patina restaurant, located in the Walt Disney Concert Hall in downtown Los Angeles, is informing employees it will close later this month after 31 years in business, according to Eater. The restaurant is no longer listed on Patina Restaurant Group’s website.

Patina had been located in the concert hall since 2003 and received a Michelin star in 2007.

Lunch cafe Anna Lee’s is closing after more than 36 years in business outside Atlanta.

“Since the future is not to be guessed, it has become financially impossible to continue the business,” owner Annelies McMorran wrote in a letter to customers, shared on AJC.com. “The restaurant will stay intact, waiting for better times and a new, younger, enthusiastic owner.”

Latin-American restaurant Cucharamama said late last month it would be forced to close after 16 years and multiple James Beard Foundation Awards for chef-owner Maricel Presilla.

“We don’t have a financial cushion,” Presilla told NJ Monthly. “Any cushion we had went in [Hurricane] Sandy. There are no investors to turn to. For us to make ends meet, we need to be packed and lively every night, and we need all our seating.”

Michelin-starred tasting concept Trois Mec, which opened in 2013, will not re-open, chef Ludo Lefebvre and his co-owner and wife, Krissy, made the announcement late last month.

“The reality is we are facing an incredible period of economic depression,” Krissy Lefebvre told CNN. “Fine dining will be a rocky journey for the foreseeable future.”

Cafe Texan, believed to be Texas’ oldest cafe to continually operate in one location, is closing after 83 years in business.

Many of the restaurant’s customers are elderly, and the owner told local media that the cafe remained closed over safety concerns.

“It’s a real tragedy that we had to close it down,” owner John Strickland said. “When I closed up because of COVID-19, I had not intended to close it permanently.”