ONE QUESTION … FOR RESTAURATEUR KAMRAN ASSADI: ARE THESE HOLIDAYS MAKING MERCHANTS HAPPY?
By Dave Wielenga
The question: From where you stand—on the downtown corner of First Street and Linden Avenue, where you and Amir Zee have co-owned Utopia Restaurant for 11 years—do these look like Happy Holidays for East Village businesses?
Kamran Assadi’s answer: Compared to last year, it’s much, much better. It’s been a very good holiday season for us. I haven’t looked at the numbers, but after all these years I can feel it. Last year was not memorable, not in a good way, and not just for us—for restaurants and retail, it was brutal. But there’s definitely light at the end of the tunnel—we’re taking reservations for New Year’s Eve—and we hope the trend will stay on. So far, so good—you know? But last year was pretty much the worst.
2 Comments
You know, I was just looking down first street, at the corner of linden avenue, and I was thinking to myself, “wonder what Kamran thinks about of all this? Is it good? Is it bad? I wonder…”
Reminds me of another thing. You know, I went to the eyeglasses store, to check out the eyeglasses, and all they had were glasses like Kamrans! I mean EVERY pair of glasses was some kind of retangular dilly-o. No “john lennon” type specs. No retro-type specs. I mean nothing! Nothing but rectangles rectangles rectangles. So then I read this article, and there’s Kamran–with rectangle glasses.
What the hell’s happening to this country, in Kamran’s opinion?! In case dave gets to do a follow up question. That’s my lead question.
Kamran.
The area outside of your restaurant looks so great now! It’s always great to see your place full! From what I have seen your business has improved a bunch over last year. “Offer a good product and they will come”. Your food and service have a lot to do with why your place is a favorite, (our community involment only add the frosting to the cake).