Story by Gregg McQueen and Desiree Johnson
The restaurant was founded three decades ago.
After a shutdown of Coogan’s Restaurant was averted, uptown residents are turning their attention to help out another longtime Washington Heights eatery in danger of closure.
Galicia Restaurant, located at 4083 Broadway, a few blocks north of Coogan’s, is in danger of closing down due to skyrocketing rent, its owner said.
The restaurant has served authentic Spanish cuisine and other Latin fare for the past 30 years.
Ramón Calo, who opened the restaurant after coming to the U.S. from Spain in the 80’s, said his landlord, Edel Family Management, wants to triple his rent.
“I cannot afford to pay what they’re asking, so I will have to close if something can’t be worked out,” said Calo.
After witnessing a groundswell of community support lead to a positive resolution for Coogan’s, which also faced a massive rent increase, local residents and loyal customers are banning together to help save the popular Galicia.
“Coogan’s seemed to get all the attention, but we have other small businesses suffering, too,” said Lena Meléndez, a Washington Heights resident who helps run Dominicanos Pro Defensa Negocios y Viviendas (DDNV), a grassroots group advocating for small business and affordable housing.
“The issue is more than just Coogan’s,” Meléndez said. “It’s about a trend of small businesses having trouble surviving, getting pushed out by landlords.”
“The way that they’re doing it, we’re all going to have to leave,” stated Calo.
Galicia’s long-term lease expired in October 2017, with the restaurant going month to month since, while attempting to negotiate a fair extension.
Read more: Galicia Gone? | Manhattan Times
Sign the Petition: Let’s Save Galicia Restaurant, too!
“I cannot afford to pay what they’re asking,” said Galicia owner Ramón Calo.
Galicia has served authentic Spanish cuisine and Latin fare for over 30 years.
Read more: Galicia Gone? | Manhattan Times
Sign the Petition: Let’s Save Galicia Restaurant, too!
Related:
The Uptown Tweet of the Week: #SaveCoogans
Amazing Things Have Happened Here: The Shared Mission of a Bar and a Hospital
Closing time at Coogan’s | Manhattan Times
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