Supervisor introduces measure to help Chinatown restaurants

The fabled Far East Cafe is set to close at the end of the year.

This holiday season, there's a glimmer of hope that help will be coming to San Francisco's Chinatown's struggling businesses.

Supervisor Aaron Peskin, whose district includes Chinatown, introduced a measure Tuesday that would give $1.9 million to restaurants to feed people in need in the neighborhood.

Peskin is hoping to secure $1.9 million to pay restaurants to feed people in need in the neighborhood.

Peskin's action came after it was learned last week that the iconic 100-year old Far East Cafe was planning to close its doors at the end of the year.

Peskin told the San Francisco Chronicle that he will try to speed up the process for the funding assistance that would normally take 30 days to approve.

Far East Cafe's manager Bill Lee told NBC News that he doesn't know if the assistance will change his plans closing. He said he will talk to investors about the city's rescue plan.

The decision to close the Grant Street restaurant was because the health measures meant to combat the coronavirus pandemic such as social distancing, stay-at-home suggestions and a ban on indoor dining has hurt his business. Not only did the restaurant lose regular customers, but the money from tourists have completely disappeared.