Brooklyn's Pig Beach Reopens with Big Changes
Things look a little different at Pig Beach NYC as it reopens with outdoor dining.
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When Pig Beach NYC closed its doors in March as COVID-19 was beginning to ravage the city, the restaurant's partners had no idea what would happen next and they certainly didn't imagine they would reopen four months later as a completely transformed operation.
Pig Beach officially reopened last weekend, and like many other local businesses, it has drastically changed its setup to ensure safety for employees and guests. All dining has been set up outdoors, with tables in the back that are spaced out six feet apart. The restaurant also set up new tables in front of the restaurant on the street, so people can get a quick meal or a to-go drink without waiting for a table in the back.
Other noticeable changes include the addition of plexiglass barriers at any station where a person orders or picks up food/drinks. And all employees are wearing masks and patrons must wear masks unless they are seated at their tables.
"We have done our best to make sure the safety of employees and guests is our number one priority," Pig Beach chef and partner Matt Abdoo said. "We want this space to feel welcoming and safe. We are hopeful that we have an outdoor space that people are going to continue to come to."
The only issue with the outdoor space as of now is that it is partly under construction because the Environmental Protection Agency has mandated improvements to the Gowanus Canal, which is next to Pig Beach.
"We were hopeful that the construction would be completed before April," Abdoo said. "Some guests are confused by it, but it's been forced upon us and it's not an elective thing. The EPA has basically mandated that the landlord clean it up. They are expecting that it should be done by September now, which really hurts our summer."
Many of the menu staples Pig Beach is known for are back, including the brisket sandwich, Pig Beach burger, ribs, and smoked wings. However, Abdoo notes the menu has been pared down somewhat.
"We're operating on a limited menu to keep our overhead down," Abdoo said. "We're no longer doing our daily specials that we used to do and not as many off-the-cuff specials."
The brisket sandwich is as good as ever at Pig Beach.
Abdoo said it will be tough to do, but Pig Beach can theoretically break even if enough people come through the door and the team can continue optimizing for the new environment. The biggest factor to breaking even, however, was renegotiating the lease with the landlord so that rent could be based on a portion of sales instead of a flat amount. Another factor that has helped Pig Beach make the business viable is that New York State is currently allowing to-go cocktails.
"The biggest crux to the equation now is labor," Abdoo said. "There's only four hourly employees here now, two dishwashers and two line cooks. The other employees are managers we brought back on salary."
On the business front, one thing that helped sustain Pig Beach while it was closed was its ability to obtain a Paycheck Protection Program (PPP) loan. While the PPP program has been frustrating for some businesses because the rules changed several times, it has worked out for the better since Pig Beach got the loan.
"It's been a great lifeline for us to help get back-rent paid to the landlord," Abdoo said. "And it gives you basically free labor for two months for what you are allotted, but the only hiccup is that you have to make as much money as you can in those two months. Once that ends, you're on your own. ... But without it, we wouldn't be open right now."
Outdoor tables are now spaced 6 feet apart and new line barriers have been set up at Pig Beach.
Pig Beach has built a reputation as a top host for events, but all large gatherings are currently on hold in New York to stop the spread of COVID-19. That said, Abdoo said the joint will try to host the Jeff Michner BBQ Benefit — an event that honors an important member of their team that passed away in 2018 — this year.
"We are absolutely going to continue the event and the tradition, as soon as the city will allow us," Abdoo said. "It's definitely going to happen and we've had amazing support from all the pitmasters that participate."
Outside of the Brooklyn operation, Pig Beach had two major projects in the works before the pandemic. One is the forthcoming launch of a larger location in Long Island City that is located in a beer garden, which is on hold until there is more clarity about larger gatherings from the city and state.
The other is the launch of Pig Beach Palm Beach, which is located just north of Miami and has started serving barbecue on the weekends.
"It's located in my hometown and I get texts from friends saying, 'Dude, this is awesome," Pig Beach partner Shane McBride said. "We have the space but we were hamstrung by the city, whose planning office was shut down. We were in a holding pattern and now we're moving forward. ... I would love to do more Pig Beach locations across the United States. I want to get Long Island City opened and then start looking elsewhere."
Don't miss out on the wings at Pig Beach.
Even with all the uncertainty, Abdoo, McBride, and the team were happy to finally be able to open their doors last weekend after a long wait.
"It's a rollercoaster of emotions that you go through as a restaurant owner," Abdoo said. "It was great to see all our staff again and not being with them for four months was hard. And there's the anxiety of hoping that all of this was going to work. ... But the second we started letting people in, it felt really great to be back."
Sean Ludwig
Founder, NYC BBQ
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