Far East Cafe closure postponed

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Aaron Peskin spoke about his rescue plan during a press conference in front of the Far East Cafe.

Well, Dec. 31st has come and gone and the Far East Cafe in San Francisco's Chinatown is still operating ... but time and money is running out unless the city comes through with financial assistance.

The Far East's owner Bill Lee and investors decided postpone it's planned Dec. 31 shutdown in order to fulfill orders through Jan. 7 and at the same time, pray that the $1.9 million that is supposed to be coming from the City Of San Francisco is able to cut through the red tape.

The $1.9 million that would go to Chinatown businesses is a measure introduced by Supervisor Aaron Peskin. last week is intended to help those businesses hurt by the safe practices meant to reduce the spread of the coronavirus pandemic.

Ordinarily that rescue funds would take a month or committee meetings, hearings and planning before it is officially approved but Peskin is trying to speed up the process in order to help the 100-year old Far East Cafe which announced its intentnion to shutter two weeks ago.

If approved, the Far East and other Chinatown restaurants will take part in a program that would have them prepare meals for the elderly, poor and homeless.

The Far East Cafe is a landmark institution on Chinatown's main street, the fabled Grant Avenue and one of only two restaurants that still have room for large banquets. With the current indoor dining ban and the loss of tourists, the institution had been trying to subsist on takeout orders only.