San Francisco's oldest Indian restaurant faces closure threat as downtown struggles to recover
"This is the time that I would love everybody to support us because once we are gone, you can't just say, 'Oh, I wish I came,'" said Ranjan Dey, the chef and owner of New Delhi.
Dey, who has owned the restaurant since 1988, explained that despite being a staple of the city's culinary scene, New Delhi, like many other businesses in downtown San Francisco, continues to feel the effects of the COVID-19 pandemic. Five years after the start of the crisis, the area has yet to fully recover, particularly due to the ongoing remote work trend and persistent public safety concerns.
"January and February have been one of the slowest [months] in 36 years," Dey added, reflecting on the severe decline in foot traffic and business.
Located just two blocks from Union Square and one block from Market Street, New Delhi's once-vibrant location now experiences slow nights. The struggles have been felt across the area, with nearby retail giants like Macy's and Bloomingdale's set to close their doors, and Nordstrom already having left.
"It's dire," Dey said, expressing the deep concern. "It is really scary. I have to dip into all my savings. They're all gone. I have to take personal loans left, right, and center to make sure I pay the bills, take care of my staff."
The challenges aren't limited to restaurants alone. The owner of City Sightseeing San Francisco, a hop-on-hop-off tour bus company, also reported a significant decline in tourists, particularly those from China.
Maneet Sohal, the owner, told CBS News Bay Area that this winter had been the slowest in years for his business, with fewer visitors and locals alike, further stressing the downtown economy.
In response to the situation, Dey has been forced to get creative. He introduced a new entertainment concept to attract customers, adding live performances alongside his signature Indian cuisine.
"It's spicy Curry-Oke, and that's more deliciousness. You have a few drinks, you can karaoke with a dish of curry out of tune," Dey joked, referring to the new "Curry-Oke" nights held every Tuesday and Wednesday.
This unique combination of food and entertainment is aimed at drawing in younger crowds and re-energizing the dining experience at New Delhi.
Similar efforts have proven successful for nearby legacy business John's Grill, which has been serving San Francisco for over 100 years. Owner John Konstin Jr. shared that their restaurant has bounced back by adding live jazz music every night of the week.
"We have three levels rocking every night. We have live jazz music seven days a week," Konstin Jr. said, highlighting how live music has helped keep the restaurant thriving amidst tough times.
To further support businesses in the area, State Senator Scott Wiener is working with local leaders to change laws that would allow more businesses to serve alcohol in downtown San Francisco, a move that could help revive the area's nightlife.
"We're working on turning Ellis Street into an entertainment zone," Konstin Jr. added, hopeful that such initiatives will bring more life to the district.
For Dey, any solution that could bring people back to downtown is welcome.
"I feel we are going to overcome it, but we just need a little help. As a community, we can band together, we can help each other, we can overcome it," he said, holding onto the hope that long-time customers will return and support the establishment.
New Delhi has not served lunch in a while due to a lack of daytime customers, but remains open every night for dinner starting at 5 p.m. Dey remains optimistic that the city's residents and tourists alike will rediscover the flavors of his restaurant and help preserve this San Francisco institution.
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