Several of the Roosevelt Island shops that temporarily closed due to the Coronavirus Pandemic have recently re-opened or are planning to soon resume limited service. Today the Jupioca Juice Bar opened
and the Liukoushui Hot Pot Noodle Shop opened earlier this week. Fuji East Japanese Restaurant and China 1 have signs in their window that they will open June 1. Piccolo Trattoria Pizza restaurant
Starbucks
and Subway Sandwich shop have reopened recently. Nisi Restaurant and Cafe@Cornell Tech did not close. But all the restaurants are take out or delivery only for now. No indoor seating. Today, I asked Main Street Retail Master Leaseholder Hudson Related’s David Kramer and Shops On Main Street representatives:

Are any discussions being held with Roosevelt Island restaurants and RIOC about how they will operate when able to fully re-open?

The NYC Open Streets initiative is looking into using open public space for restaurant outdoor seating. Here’s some examples.

Anything similar planned for Roosevelt Island – perhaps Good Shepherd Plaza, Blackwell Plaza, Firefighters Field etc can be used for outdoor seating that maintains social distancing space.

Will update when more info available. Here full version of Streetsfilm NYC Restaurants Need Open Streets NOW . UPDATE 5/27 – Shops On Main Street spokesperson replied:

We are actively in touch with each shop individually on how they independently plan on phasing in as full restrictions are lifted. Once each shop has settled on their specific plan, we will look at it as a collective and how we can support Shops on Main within NYCs Open Streets initiative and in conjunction with RIOC, etc.

Roosevelt Islander