Coronavirus concerns hurting Asian restaurants in Pittsburgh, some owners say

Asian restaurants and markets across Pittsburgh are hurting because of misinformation surrounding how the new coronavirus spreads, community leaders and officials said Friday.

To combat the anti-Chinese sentiment, local politicians gathered for lunch at Oakland’s Night Market Gourmet to encourage patronage of Asian restaurants and quash myths.

“In the Marines or any branch of the military, we would never send troops on any kind of mission without the best information available,” said U.S. Rep. Conor Lamb, D-Mt. Lebanon. “So for the challenge we are all about to confront, if you were told anything at all about Asian restaurants of Asian Americans, it was wrong.”

Marien Lien, president local arm of the Organization for Chinese Americans, said business is down at several Asian businesses anywhere from 20% to 40%.

She said there are at least 30 Asian restaurants in Squirrel Hill alone, and 90 across the eastern part of the city.

“In Squirrel Hill, there are a couple of restaurants that are just breaking even, but they should be doing so much better during the Lunar New Year period, and they’re not,” she said.

Local politicians are in Oakland at Night Market Gourmet speaking about dispelling covid-19 myths — including that there’s some sort of risk posed by patronizing Asian establishments pic.twitter.com/QkhHXkks6L

— Megan Guza (@meganguzaTrib) March 6, 2020

The overall extent of the impact on the region’s Asian restaurants isn’t clear.

Several Chinese, Thai and Vietnamese restaurants along Murray Avenue in Squirrel Hill were bustling Thursday night with mostly filled tables.

Managers of Chinese restaurants in the Alle-Kiski Valley, including in Lower Burrell and New Kensington, said they haven’t noticed any major dips in business or customers citing concerns over the coronavirus.

U.S. Rep. Mike Doyle, D-Forest Hills, said Pittsburgh’s diversity is what helps make it a great city.

“What doesn’t make it great is ignorance and fear, and yet we’re seeing a lot of fear and ignorance in Pittsburgh and across the country,” he said.

The idea that Asian Americans and their businesses and food can spread the virus, he said, is “simply untrue.”

Lien said about 300 people attended the Lunar Parade last weekend in Squirrel Hill. Attendance topped 1,000 in previous years. She called the current climate a “hand-wringing, heart-wrenching moment” for local Asian business owners.

Mayor Bill Peduto said that while everyone needs to be cautious, that caution should be based on science, not speculation.

“They’re part of every neighborhood,” Peduto said of the Asian community. “The businesses are entrepreneurs who … risk their own savings in order to do something they felt Pittsburghers would enjoy.”

Michael Chen co-owns Night Market Gourmet and Everyday Noodles restaurants. He said the Asian community is being as cautious as most people.

“We are as afraid as anyone else,” he said. “We consider ourselves Pittsburghers. We are fighting with everybody.”