The Effects of COVID-19 on Chinatown: An Analysis of Ethnic Enclave Participation and Immigrant Entrepreneurship in the Restaurant Industry

Abstract

The COVID-19 pandemic generated massive nation-wide shutdowns in 2020, particularly in cities. New York City was not only among the first to get hit, but experienced one of the highest hospitalizations and death rates in the country (CDC 2020). While New York City suffered greatly, the impact of the pandemic was felt significantly more in certain communities. The restaurant industry, forced to halt their dine-in services, suffered immensely. Chinese communities were blamed for the pandemic, experiencing fear and anger-derived hate. These issues converged in Chinatown, Manhattan, where the restaurant industry makes up much of its ethnic economy (Chan 2021). Through qualitative and quantitative data collection, I piece together the impacts of COVID-19 on the health of Chinatown’s restaurant industry. While the impacts of COVID-19 will take years to analyze, this preliminary data will help to uncover how catastrophes can be particularly harmful to fragile communities such as Chinatown.