![]() The former space for Vegan Hill, which closed, was briefly occupied by a Mexican eatery but is now papered over again and appears to have a new tenant moving in. On Instagram, Kikue said it could not work out negotiations with the landlord, which led it to close March 31. Top of the Hill, a popular bar, is now closed, as is a Japanese restaurant, Kikue, at 3579 Waialae Ave. He is also relieved to be fully vaccinated, which gives him hope.Īlong the main stretch of Waialae Avenue, empty storefronts tell the story of the pandemic’s impact and slow recovery. Otto McDonough of Otto Cake, which sells cheesecakes and other desserts on 12th Avenue, says he was never able to qualify for the city’s small-business relief grants others received, and still does not know why.Īfter struggling through slow sales, he got a good bump during the holidays, and business is picking up slightly now. Some graffiti marks the windows, and inside, the space remains dark and empty. ![]() The 12th Avenue space for Gecko Books & Comics, a mainstay in the community for more than 30 years, still remains empty after closing in October. ![]() Just around the corner and down the street, however, others have not been so lucky. Schwartz is pivoting by applying for a liquor license, with plans to offer craft cocktails on Fridays and Saturdays as another source of revenue. Her shop has pivoted to offering gelato cakes, which have proved to be a hit as people are once again gathering to celebrate. She said she witnessed a return following various waves of COVID-19 vaccinations, with more kupuna coming out first, followed by younger customers. “More and more people are coming out,” she said. On Memorial Day weekend Via Gelato began offering dine-in seating, which was a milestone. She said foot traffic has picked up in the neighborhood and that there is a lighter mood overall. Melissa Bow, owner of Via Gelato, also credited loyal customers in the neighborhood for helping her business survive. “Kaimuki is so awesome, and this neighborhood is so loyal and supporting,” she said, “and they’re continuing to do so. She attributes her survival to the support of a loyal neighborhood.įortunately, she was able to keep approximately 20 employees, some of whom have worked for her for years. The largest challenge has been keeping up with the rent for her 3,600- square-foot space.Īs soon as she could reopen, she had a glass case installed in front, plus custom-made Plexiglas barriers on wheels that can be rolled between tables. It took about six months after the second shutdown for people to feel comfortable coming back in again, she said. On a recent weekday the cafe of more than 25 years was bustling, with customers occupying every table and a line in front of the cash register. “I’m seeing the light at the end of the tunnel,” she said. The past year has been a blur, but she remembers the struggles of surviving two shutdowns, when her independent coffee shop at 12th and Waialae avenues sat empty due to restrictions, followed by a slow reopening - and now a feeling of hope. It took a leap of faith to remain in business throughout the COVID-19 pandemic, says Liz Schwartz, owner of Coffee Talk in Kaimuki.
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