NYC Restaurants Face Tough Call During Blizzard: Open or Close?

Restaurateurs weigh safety of staff against demands of customers trapped at home during winter storm.

Published on Feb. 23, 2026

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As a major blizzard hit New York City, restaurant and cafe owners had to quickly decide whether to open their businesses, risking staff safety but potentially meeting high customer demand from people stuck at home, or to close and add to their already slow winter sales. Isa Steyer, co-owner of Welcome Home Bakery in Bedford-Stuyvesant, had to coordinate with her staff to determine who could safely come in, ultimately opening with a limited crew and experiencing one of her busiest days in weeks as parents and remote workers sought food and drinks nearby.

Why it matters

Restaurants and small businesses in NYC face a delicate balance during extreme weather events, having to weigh the safety of their staff against the potential for increased sales from customers unable to travel. This decision can make or break a business, especially during the typically slow winter season when every sale counts.

The details

When the mayor announced a travel ban on Sunday, NYC restaurateurs had just a few hours to decide whether to open or close their businesses. Some, like Welcome Home Bakery, reached out to staff to see who could safely come in, with one baker saying she was worried about the dough and would rather not leave it unbaked. Others decided to stay home. Ultimately, Welcome Home opened with a limited crew and experienced one of its busiest days in weeks as parents, remote workers, and others sought food and drinks nearby.

  • On Sunday afternoon, Mayor Zohran Mamdani announced a travel ban.
  • By 1 p.m. on Monday, Welcome Home Bakery was down to just a few remaining boules.

The players

Isa Steyer

The co-owner of Welcome Home Bakery in Bedford-Stuyvesant.

Zohran Mamdani

The mayor of New York City who announced a travel ban on Sunday.

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What they’re saying

“The only person who it was really dependent on was the 4 a.m. baker, because that's the one who kind of starts the morning bake, and we can't open if that person doesn't come in. He said, 'Yes, I'll be here.'”

— Isa Steyer, Co-owner, Welcome Home Bakery (The New York Times)

“School's out, so parents are walking around with their kids trying to go somewhere. People are working from home. They're not going into the office. It's a holiday, no matter what age you are.”

— Isa Steyer, Co-owner, Welcome Home Bakery (The New York Times)

What’s next

The city will continue to monitor the blizzard and may extend or lift the travel ban in the coming days, which will impact whether restaurants and small businesses can fully reopen.

The takeaway

This blizzard highlights the difficult decisions small business owners in NYC must make during extreme weather events, having to balance staff safety with potential sales opportunities from customers unable to travel. Navigating these trade-offs can make or break a business, especially during the challenging winter season.