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Zona Tribeca closes for covid cases
Zona Tribeca, the Mexican restaurant on the corner of Greenwich and Harrison, closed temporarily after a member of its staff was exposed to the coronavirus. They first closed on Monday and have been shuttered all week; their note said they will reopen after safety and testing protocols have been met.
Over the past months the restaurant has had one of the most lively curbside scenes in the neighborhood, with dozens of seats in its two outdoor sheds. But I have also received several complaints from neighbors, who say they have repeatedly called 311 for noise that travels up to their apartments and goes on past the curbside closing regulation of 11 p.m.
With indoor dining closed as of Monday, the regulations for the covered curbside seating has been restated by the Department of Transportation for the winter. To operate at full capacity, which means tables of no more than 10 that are six feet apart from each other, the structure has to have two sides open, and one of those sides has to be parallel with the roadway. If three sides are closed, it has to follow the rules of indoor dining — which must now mean it’s off altogether.
DOT inspected the restaurant in mid November, and said it was compliant then, and a spokesman said the manager was made aware of the new regulations, including the 25 percent capacity rule. The restaurant agreed to open up an additional wall for air circulation. DOT said it will continue to monitor the location for overall compliance.
Zona said it added ventilators to its outdoor structures.
There are also regulations about the roofs of structures in regard to snow accumulation, and how the structures have to accommodate snow removal.
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Lively? Try a horrible new addition to the neighborhood. Lousy (like their customers) food too – how do you mess up a vegetarian burrito?
Do they even make people give their information for contact tracers? Does anyone around here?
For the safety of the neighborhood every business open to the public within at least a three block radius of Zona should have all their employees tested for covid. Definitely/at least test people at the places this infected person told the CTs they went to.
I am replying to Hopefully Gone. Zona is not a ” New addition” If you live here for many years you would know that. It was originally Maryann’s has been here many years. I think you are rude In saying they do not follow the rules. They do follow the ” contact tracing rules'”. It is always closed on Time. I am a steady customer. I live here in Tribeca 30 years. By 10pm we are out. Even outside getting the staff gives you the bill to pay before 10pm. At least Greenwich street has some life! Its so scary to walk around at night with assaults everywhere down here. You should call 311 for that. Please call on the crime around our neighborhood not on businesses that are trying to survive this horrible time. Blame your elected officials for the crime . Cuomo spoke the other day, restaurants and bars are have 0.1 affect and staying home with family and friends 74 percent the cause of infection from Covid19. Restaurants and bars are trying so hard to make it. Zona did nothing wrong. They spent thousands on ventilation and outdoor. Stop calling on our businesses and focus on the huge up rise in crime downtown.
First off, it is a new addition. I could care less if it’s Mary Ann’s under a new name and/or under MA ownership. If either or both they have not been a good neighbor like MA was. And I could care less that you’re a customer or how long you’ve lived here, both mean nothing. BTW get your gripe straight as it was Yaffa Cafe, Mary Ann’s & Dahlia (all three good neighbors) in that order before Zona which has zero connection to any of three save it’s in the same space.
Second I am not rude, Zona is rude with their loud mostly maskless customers they don’t say pipe down to. They should close on time but do not or did you read the article? Or you’re coming after me cuz you don’t have the guts to come after TC?
I seriously doubt they get info for contact tracing but if they do good. You are too much of a booster of this place for me to believe it with your “we are out by 10pm” like you should get a medal for it. Greenwich Street has plenty of life with Gigino’s & L’Angolo, Duane Reade & Benevuto Cafe, Estanica 460, Azuba & Paisley, Yves & Locanda Verde, Gee Whiz, Washington Market Park etc. Zona is one problem place on the street. They’re the one I’ve seen people yell & act like idiots at & cop cars go to. Now it’s the one place which had a covid case possibly more & possibly more & not surprising as they don’t enforce masks & social distancing at all & cram in as many people as possible. BTW why do they get two curbside dining areas? Special? Restaurants on corners should get more seating? UNFAIR.
I will call 911 not 911 if/when I witness crime. I blame NYPD First Precinct for not having a presence or walking the beat. I will blame Trump & the 53 obstructionist do nothing Senate Republicans for not passing another stimulus bill better than the first one. Cuomo lowered the infection rate so we’re down to fourth in the nation & well behind many fat less populated states since late spring. Yes 74% caused by too many people in private homes. So restaurants would only increase the rate hence the lockdown – are you this dense in real life? There’s this great thing called takeout for delivery & pickup & tip well. Also drinking at home – try both sometime. During a pandemic from a deadly disease with no vaccine for anyone but those who need it first or cure for the foreseeable future. And you can still eat & drink outside – just bundle up. If not again take out & tip well.
There is no huge rise in crime downtown or especially in this neighborhood. Put down the New York Post, turn off 77 WABC & Fox News, get over Trump lost, deal with the lockdown restaurants have contributed to, and open your eyes and ears.
My life is more important than your damn night out eating & drinking, ok? Sorry not sorry I think the immediate area businesses should be tested cuz of the case/s at Zona.
Hopefully Gone, you nasty rude person. I guess your an bitter customer. Get your facts straight Maryann’s is Zona. Same people. Secondly, how dare you mention Trump, the election and what news I watch. You assume I am a Trump supporter? LMAO , I am coming after you on here by responding? You have issues. You calling costumers ” idiots”. Shame on you. I know exactly the type of person you are. We all get the Citizen App Alerts and hear the 911 calls on it also. The Crime is real!!! Downtown isn’t safe anymore. You do not know me! Secondly, Zona staff are hard working people just trying to pay their bills. We all are supporting our local businesses down here and all around the city. New York City has followed all the rules. Takeout doesn’t cut it to keep our businesses open. Blame both parties for not passing the stimulus bill you hater. But big stores continue to stay open. You have no idea who is sick in Wholefoods, Target etc! Please give me a break.
Not commenting on the sniping, but as far as “old” goes, it’s only been there since 2009! Bring back Yaffas!
I’m also replying to Hopefully Gone. Those lousy customers you called out are actually your neighbors That are kindly trying to support their local business. I seriously doubt that Zona is the only restaurant going through this. At least Zona is trying to do the right thing by following State Protocols by closing and having everyone tested before reopening. I’m just wondering how many places are open up and running right now knowing that someone from their staff has been exposed ?
Thank you Zona for being transparent!!
Good luck 🍀
Thank you ! You speak the truth !
Very few of the patrons at Zona are Tribecans. It’s clear that it’s younger people traveling to the neighborhood to dine in the over crowded hotboxes. Even my kids could recognize that this restaurant wasn’t following Covid rules.
For the record the beat cops can’t issue citations for Covid violations for anything related to outdoor dining unless there is an actual crime happening. This is a new rule.
If the noise continues to annoy neighbors, and they make enough 311 calls and enough complaints to the SLA then the first precinct can write citations about misuse of police resources (or something like that).
Make sure Community Board 1 knows. They don’t have a lot of power, but they do work with the SLA and set closing hours and other rules during normal times.
Well said
Sorry you are way out of line. Have lived here for over 20 years.
How you can compare Zona with totally upscale Locanda is beyond me. Different audience and price point. The food is fine and the staff tries hard. It is welcome among high priced eating establishments in the neighborhood as affordable. Yes it’s lively and that is welcome in what is an area of empty storefronts. Open your eyes.
Not surprised. They basically built an indoor structure on the street, defeating the entire purpose of outdoor dining. I am surprised they passed a DOT inspection.
I’m not a nasty, rude, or bitter person, you have no clue what kind of person I am & you don’t know me either, you Zona shill. Mary Ann’s people opened Zona? Ok then how ’bout they be a good neighbor like they were years ago when it was Mary Ann’s, not a bad one during a pandemic with their rude, loud, obnoxious, maskless, less than six feet apart customers making noise past 11pm an hour after closing time (which means Zona is open well past 10pm thus breaking the law.) Shame on them for behaving in such a way that they can spread the virus & possibly gave Zona staff the virus. Bottom line is Zona is the least behaved place on Greenwich Street. Idiots dancing on the tables. Enclosed curbside where it much as well be indoors. Btw I’m calling out Zona management not the kitchen or waitstaff for not regulating their idiot customers you dolt.
You sound like a Trump supporter running your mouth about Cuomo, how restaurants are being killed but not people, all about business etc. Business over lives with you. Blame both parties? Nah, Republicans are to blame entirely. Democrats wanted 2.2T then Republicans countered with an insulting 1.8T then half that. Yeah I hate Trump because he’s a racist bigot who has taken x amount more lives with this pandemic with his gross neglience, what of it? I hate Republicans because not only do they fall in lockstep with this site loser but 126 of them in the House want to overturn the election, what of it? They hate me, I hate them. Time iberals, progressives & Democrats take off the gloves – I’m one of them.
The crime is not real and downtown is perfectly safe. Every major crime is down save murder & burgulary. There have been 426 murders in NYC through December 6th up from 305 same time last year buy still far below the 649 murders in 1998 & 629 murders in 2001 under Giuliani. Crine in those years was much higher than 2020 with 500M-1M less people back then (less in 98 than 01). So by your logic NYC was much more dangerous then. Math doesn’t lie so how ’bout you stop lying in the face of it? As for burgulary, expected when businesses close & people move away. But you keep trying to traffic on fear with your ridiculous NYC is dangerous like 1970-95 again nonsense. Leave your house sonetime, too, and try not to go a place which doesn’t let people tap maskless less than six feet apart like Zona.
Whole Foods & Target are open because they can afford to be yes, but like ’em or not they are essential businesses whose TriBeCa locations employ dozens of New Yorkers. Takeout costs the same as done in. Buy booze from a place along with takeout. You can still eat outside. Some places have heaters. Bundle up. I take out, pick up, done outside & tip well all…the…time. I just bought a ten ounce hot chocolate from Jack’s on Reade for $6.10 & tipped $3. I tip at least $5 on every order over that & give a top equal to an item under $5 e.g. $2 toasted bagel with cream cheese? $2 tip, $3 regular slice, $3 tip & so don’t lecture me about supporting lical biz.
I get a kick out of liberals or anyone for that matter, saying crime overall is down, except murders and burglary, Why is it acceptable in an argument over safety to say murders being up from 305 last year is not bad. Really? 305 murders are an outrageous number! Downtown is less safe period!, Homeless, mentally insane roaming the streets. Burglary expected because people are not out and businesses closed? another sad excuse for doing nothing and looking away, Maybe Seattle and Portland are ok with that but NYC should strive to do better.
S, your 100 percent right. The Mayor is a corrupt horror. He put all the mentally ill men in hotels without community board approvals. Basically destroyed our city in a matter of 6 months. We are fighting the City Hall and the Dummy of a Mayor putting these addicts in the Radisson Hotel on Wall Street. Our governor is to obsessed with Covid, Which we all know is real and can be a deadly thing for some. He does not address the crime. He put in bail reform which basically lets these crimes right out of jail to commit the same crime over and over. Also defunding the police. Which we all know that is why the city is so unsafe. I refuse to answer that name caller disgrace of a person.
Tribeca Citizen should definitely get rid of people who comment with such hatred on here. It should not be tolerated!!
Completely agree. The bile some people spew here is disgusting.
+1
I agree – let’s keep it classy people. We are all on the same side here.
Can we keep the tone down please? We have had enough vitriol over the past 4 years to last us until the next Big Bang. We’re neighbors. Let’s start by being kind. If we disagree, we can respectfully disagree.
The noise level has gone up, for sure. I am 2 blocks away and often hear it. But in fairness, I can’t quite tell where it is coming from since I am inside my home, not outside. But it is often still going on until past midnight. I have thought at times that it is from a party.
neighbors,
at times like this we need less contention and more peace, less negativity and more positivity. we live in an amazing neighborhood and should count our blessings. its true Zona is a bit too lively from the exuberance of young kids cooped up. I remember, or sort of remember, what that feels like. live and let live – remember that’s what made tribeca in the first place. lets hope more businesses don’t close. support the ones you like and don’t go to the ones you dont. simple. and as far as the politicians – regardless of stripe, lets hold them all accountable.
What is going on with the “doll Houses” that are on the corner of Hudson & Harrison for the Korean restaurant? How is this legal? They are basically mini restaurants- four sides and a door. Too many restaurants are taking advantage of the lack of enforcement by the city. (Yes, I know it is a tough time for restaurants and not all are in violation).
Not sure why you refer to them as dollhouses.
They look like private rooms like many restaurants offer. Why would they not be legal? If you book one you’re not sharing indoor dining air/space with anyone who is not in your party. Take a look around – many restaurants in this (and other cities) offer the same. Just because it’s not clear/plastic/glass and the walls are opaque – why does that matter? Why is eating in a private bubble or greenhouse ok with you but not a hut (“ dollhouse”)?
People need to worry about themselves, as my 4 year old niece says.
So much negativity here in general.
Why is eating in an unventilated bubble okay? Doesn’t the virus hang in the air?
@hm @Kathy TC beat me to it.
But nobody is forcing you to eat in an enclosed structure, or in any restaurant (outside or inside).
Perhaps make your own food instead of worrying about whether the virus hangs in the air in a plastic bubble with ventilation.
As someone who almost died from the virus (and is 100% certain how I was infected), I can tell you what I do.
I certainly don’t criticize others for deciding to eat in a separate enclosed space rather than taking the risk – even outside – of contamination while eating and talking maskless others.
Why people are generally jerks with no compassion never ceases to amaze me.
Agree. Live and let live.
But people have been counting others faults forever.
Aesop’s fable or the “two bags” touches upon this some problem 2500yrs ago. More things change, the more they stay the same, eh?
https://fablesofaesop.com/the-two-bags.html
If it seats one party, it can have four sides. From the DOT’s regs: “Enclosed structures, such as plastic domes, will be allowed for individual parties and must have adequate ventilation to allow for air circulation.” All of the plans must be approved by the DOT — you have to apply, you can’t just build.
Hopefully Gone is a Diblasio supporter, hence why they don’t see that crime has gone up, and trying to tear down working people and establishment. Don’t bother arguing with them. They are probably Karen/Ken with their cell phone at hand.
Do you know of a single liberal or conservative that is a DeBlasio supporter? I sure don’t. Democrats and Republicans hate him equally. Sorry to burst your bubble, but nobody likes him.
Walking past Zona the other day I noticed that they had poured concrete foundations directly on top of the massive granite sidewalk stones on Harrison. While I may be incorrect in questioning the legality of such such construction, it just didn’t seem right.
Oh yeah, also, those guys were always open late, with tables drunkenly singing at the tops of their lungs on a nightly basis. I actually assumed that they were running Karoke nights given the sound but never bothered investigating. Nothing says Covid safety like belting out a few tunes in an enclosed structure!! Sounded like folks were having fun though.
Here is my related yet unrelated comment: We are all concerned about the spread of Covid. Why is the the city doing nothing about the homeless folks suddenly taking residence in Tribeca’s streets?
There is a man who has a makeshift place on the Church Street sidewalk between Duane & Reade. He’s been out there now for months. He sleeps in a big pile of trash. Not only is his health at risk as he could be exposed to Covid and never know it. But what kind of risk it for the rest of us?
I’ve seen people feeding him and what I assume are social workers talking to him. yet he s still there. he obviously needs help. Why does the city shut down restaurants and businesses but allows this type of possible spreading. i walk by him almost everyday.
H&H,Mayor Deblasio has no interest in solving homeless problem which is out of control, Police are hands off (by his orders) and 311 is a joke, he gave his wife a$1Billion dollar program to help with mental illness with no accountability and even less results, puts homeless in hotels, at an astronomical cost. I sympathize with residents of the area, but feel worse for the homeless who this city has totally abandoned and allows people with mental,covid issues to live on the street. in typical Deblasio fashion does nothing, won’t be his problem at the end of next year and has left this city in shambles. worst person( calling him mayor is an insult to mayors)this city has ever voted into office.