Asian restaurants feel more impact from the pandemic than most

PITTSBURGH — “It’s challenging, but, we’re here to battle,” said Norraset Nareedokmai, owner of Silk Elephant restaurant.

Nareedokmai is not letting ignorance in our community stop him from his passion, which is providing Pittsburgh Thai food from his Squirrel Hill restaurant.

”We have such a good community and loyal customers who trust in us and believe in us,” Nareedokmai said.

At the beginning of the pandemic, Nareedokmai’s restaurant started to suffer. He said he believes the drop in business was, in part, discrimination toward Asian Americans because the coronavirus developed in China.

”I felt like we did have some, a little bit, of impact because of where it originated from. We felt it and we could see from the sales,” Nareedokmai said.

He added, the rhetoric from former President Donald Trump, who referred to the coronavirus as “The China Virus,” didn’t help.

”A comment like that is personally hurtful, and I don’t feel like it belongs,” Nareedokmai said.

Almost one year later, his staff is still going above and beyond to show they are following all safety protocols from the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.

They do temperature checks for all employees and customers who enter the restaurant. Extra plexiglass barriers have been installed throughout the building.

”I feel that personally, I think we have to do extra just to build the confidence. It’s not easy. People are still taking a lot of caution, so we have to build a trust,” Nareedokmai said.

And, for the regulars who stuck around no matter what, Nareedokmai said he and his staff are thankful.”

To have them always supporting us and encouraging us to hang in there, it means so much.”

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