BEING A SMALL BUSINESS OWNER IN THE POST-PANDEMIC ERA IS NOT EASY.

BUT IT IS EVEN MORE CHALLENGING IF YOU ARE ALSO LIVING WITH A DISABILITY.

AND THAT IS THE STORY OF, WHO AT THE END OF 2024 PORT WINE FOR THE LAST TIME AT HIS ELEVATED NEW YORK RESTAURANT.

BENJAMIN HIGHLIGHT IN AN OPINION PIECE IN THE NEW YORK TIMES HOW INFLATION AND UNAFFORDABLE PRIVATE HEALTH INSURANCE WERE LARGELY TO BLAME FOR THE RESTAURANT CLOSURE AND HE SPEAKS TO MICHELLE MARTIN ABOUT THE MANY HOSPITALITY WORKERS ACROSS THE U.S.

FACING A SIMILAR PLATE.

>> THANKS.

THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR SPEAKING WITH US.

>> THANK YOU FOR HAVING ME.

>> TELL ME ABOUT THE RESTAURANT.

FOR PEOPLE WHO PERHAPS DON'T FOLLOW THESE THINGS, IT IS A RESTAURANT, IT WAS IN EAST HARLEM, IT WAS TWICE NAMED OF NEW YORK CITY'S 100 BEST RESTAURANTS BY THE NEW YORK TIMES.

AND THAT IS CERTAINLY SAYING SOMETHING BECAUSE I THINK AS EVERYBODY KNOWS, NEW YORK IS ONE OF THE WORLD'S GREAT CITIES AND RESTAURANTS ARE A BIG PART OF THE CULTURAL LIFE THERE.

YOU HAVE EARNED THE MICHELIN GUY AWARD, THAT IS QUITE AN ACHIEVEMENT.

TELL ME, WHAT DID YOU HAVE IN MIND WHEN YOU OPENED IT?

>> JUST TO GIVE A LITTLE BACKGROUND, I HAVE BEEN DOING THIS SINCE I WAS 13 YEARS OLD.

MY ENTIRE FAMILY, THEY ARE ALL FRENCH IMMIGRANTS, THEY CAME HERE FOR A BETTER LIFE AND THEY ALL WORKED IN HOSPITALITY.

THEY ALL WORKED IN RESTAURANTS AND OF COURSE I DECIDED TO FOLLOW THEIR FOOTSTEPS.

THEY WEREN'T TOO EXCITED ABOUT THAT BECAUSE LIKE EVERY IMMIGRANT'S DREAM, THEY WANT THEIR KIDS TO BE IN AN OFFICE WITH AIR CONDITIONING AND ALL THAT FUN STUFF.

AND SO I PURSUE THAT PATH.

OF COURSE THEY WERE VERY SUPPORTIVE.

AND FORTUNATELY AT THE AGE OF 25 YEARS OLD I WAS IN A CAR ACCIDENT THAT LEFT ME PARALYZED FROM THE WAIST DOWN SO OBVIOUSLY TRYING TO TRANSITION FROM A NONDISABLED PERSON WORKING IN HOSPITALITY TO A PERSON NOW USING A WHEELCHAIR FULL-TIME, IN AN INDUSTRY WHERE THERE ARE STEPS, THERE IS HOT OIL, FIRE, SHARP KNIVES, SPACE IS REALLY TIGHT.

WAS GOING TO BE VERY CHALLENGING AND THERE WERE GOING TO BE A LOT OF OBSTACLES.

BUT I DECIDED TO STAY ON THAT PATH BECAUSE I WAS SO PASSIONATE ABOUT THIS INDUSTRY AND I AM STILL PASSIONATE.

AND SO I CONTINUE TO PURSUE IT.

AND SO FINALLY WHEN I HAD THIS OPPORTUNITY AND I FOUND THIS LOCATION IN EAST HARLEM ON 88 EAST 111 STREET, TO OPEN UP THE SMALL LITTLE RESTAURANT AND WE CAN MAKE IT ACCESSIBLE, YOU KNOW, NOT JUST FOR THE PUBLIC BUT FOR PEOPLE LIKE MYSELF TO WORK THERE, IT WAS REALLY AN EXCITING VENTURE.

AND SO FOR ME, WHAT IT REPRESENTED WAS THE PERSISTENCE OF CONTINUING ON NO MATTER WHAT OBSTACLES YOU FACE, THE RESILIENCY, RIGHT?

AND ALSO A PLACE THAT WAS INCLUSIVE FOR OTHER PEOPLE WITH DISABILITIES.

THAT THEY CAN COME IN THERE AND BE TREATED WITH THE DIGNITY AND RESPECT THAT THEY DESERVE.

>> SO IT WASN'T JUST ABOUT THE DELICIOUSNESS OF THE OFFERINGS, BUT ALSO ABOUT THE STORY?

>> 100%, IT WAS ABOUT THE STORY.

AND I THINK THAT IS WHAT FOOD IS ABOUT, AND THAT IS WHAT WINE IS ALL ABOUT.

THAT IS WHAT WE WERE TRYING TO CONVEY AS A TEAM.

>> SO HOW DID THINGS START TO GO WRONG?

I AM ASSUMING THAT THE COVID PANDEMIC , YOU KNOW, HAD SOMETHING TO DO WITH IT.

>> FOR SURE.

AND THEN OF COURSE WE WERE READY TO OPEN, WE HAD MADE THE ANNOUNCEMENT, WE WERE READY TO OPEN SOMETIME IN THE SPRING OF 2020, SURE ENOUGH, NEW YORK CITY WAS SHUT DOWN MID MARCH.

AND SO HERE WE WERE, WE HAD THIS RESTAURANT THAT WAS PRETTY MUCH COMPLETE AND READY TO GO AND SO WE JUST HAULED OFF, HELD OFF, HELD OFF.

BECAUSE WE KNEW IF WE WOULD OPEN, EVENTUALLY WE MIGHT BE SHUT DOWN AGAIN.

AND THAT WOULD BE THE NAIL TO THE COFFIN.

AND SO WE DIDN'T OPEN OUR DOORS UNTIL JUNE 10, 2021.

SO THROUGHOUT THAT WHOLE TIME WE STILL HAD TO PAY RENT.

WE STILL HAD TO PAY INSURANCE.

THERE WERE STILL SOME BILLS THAT HAD TO BE PAID EVEN THOUGH WE WERE NOT OFFICIALLY OPEN.

SO THAT WAS ALREADY THE FIRST OBSTACLE WE WERE FACING, RIGHT?

AND THEN ALL THESE RULES AND REGULATIONS, WE WERE STILL IN THE MIST OF THE PANDEMIC FOR CONSTANTLY CHANGING.

IT WAS OF MY VERY CHALLENGING AND TRYING TO GET PEOPLE TO COME TO WORK AT THE RESTAURANT WAS ALSO VERY COLLOCATED.

>> BUT YOU DID IT.

AND THEN YOU ARE HIT.

>> WE WERE HIT, YES.

AND IT WAS QUITE INCREDIBLE.

I NEVER WOULD HAVE IMAGINED THAT WE WOULD HAVE GOT ALL THE PRESS WE RECEIVED.

IT WAS JUST UNBELIEVABLE.

I WAS SO GRATEFUL FOR IT.

>> WELL, HERE IS WHERE IT GETS KIND OF SORT OF TRICKY IS THAT IN YOUR PIECE FOR THE NEW YORK TIMES, YOU POINT TO A NUMBER OF FACTORS THAT LED TO YOUR HAVING TO CLOSE THE RESTAURANT.

ONE WAS INFLATION, BUT THE OTHER THING THAT YOU HIGHLIGHT IN YOUR PIECE IS HEALTH INSURANCE.

IS HOW MANY PEOPLE WHO WORK IN HOSPITALITY ACTUALLY HAVE TO WORK A SECOND JOB IN ORDER TO GET THE HEALTH INSURANCE THAT ALLOWS THEM TO WORK IN HOSPITALITY.

SO WOULD YOU TALK A LITTLE BIT ABOUT THAT, AND WHY THAT IS SUCH A BIG ISSUE?

>> HOW IT REALLY IMPACTED ME PERSONALLY, YOU KNOW, FOR THE FIRST TWO YEARS OF THE OPENING OF, I WAS THERE QUITE A BIT.

EVENTUALLY I HAD TO MAKE THE DECISION THAT I NEEDED A JOB TO PROVIDE ME WITH ADEQUATE HEALTHCARE.

NOW KEEP IN MIND, I AM A PERSON LIVING WITH SPINAL CORD INJURY, RIGHT?

SO IT IS NOT JUST THE FACT THAT I AM NOT WALKING BUT I NEED TO PAY FOR WHEELCHAIR EQUIPPED.

I NEED TO PAY FOR DURABLE MEDICAL A CLIMATE.

THERE ARE CERTAIN PRESCRIPTION DRUGS THAT I NEED, THAT IS REALLY IMPORTANT.

SO I THINK THAT WHEN I TOOK ON THAT FULL-TIME JOB SO I CAN GET ADEQUATE AND RESPECTFUL HEALTHCARE, IT TOOK AWAY FROM MY ATTENTION OF CONTENTO, AND I DO THINK THAT CONTRIBUTED TO -- TO THE SLOWDOWN OF PEOPLE GOING THERE, BECAUSE A LOT OF PEOPLE WERE GOING TO GET 23 RESTAURANT TO COME SEE ME.

I WAS NO LONGER BELIEVE THERE.

I WAS HEAVILY INVOLVED WITH THE RESTAURANT BEHIND THE SCENES, BUT, YOU KNOW, I WILL TRY TO SAY THIS IN THE MOST HUMBLE WAY, I CERTAINLY WAS THE FACE OF THE RESTAURANT IN MANY WAYS BUT IF I AM NOT THERE, A KIND OF DEFEATS THE PURPOSE OF PEOPLE WANTING TO COME VISIT US, RIGHT?

BUT I HAD NO CHOICE THAT I NEEDED HEALTHCARE.

NO, I DO BELIEVE THAT IF THERE WAS SOME KIND OF UNIVERSAL HEALTHCARE PLAN, I WOULD STILL BE THERE, I WOULD BE ABLE TO GIVE 100% AND BE ABLE TO CONTRIBUTE.

AND MAYBE WE WOULD STILL BE OPEN.

I AM NOT SAYING FOR SURE, BUT I DEFINITELY BELIEVE IT WOULD HAVE INCREASED OUR CHANCES.

SO THE HEALTHCARE SYSTEM THAT HAS PROVIDED FOR HOSPITALITY WORKERS AND THE SAFETY NET IS REALLY BROKEN AND I AM A PERFECT EXAMPLE OF THAT.

>> IN YOUR PIECE, YOU POINTED OUT ONLY 40% OF FULL-TIME HOSPITALITY WORKERS HAVE HEALTH INSURANCE COMPARED TO 87% IN THE PRIVATE SECTOR.

WHAT DOES THAT LOOK LIKE WAX IN A RESTAURANT LIKE CONTENTO, WHAT DID THAT LOOK LIKE?

WHERE MOST OF THE PEOPLE WORKING OTHER JOBS IN ORDER TO GET HEALTH INSURANCE?

OR IS IT THAT PEOPLE OUTSIDE OF THAT 40% INCLUDES PEOPLE WHO WORK AT THE BIG CHAINS LIKE APPLEBEE'S OR STARBUCKS?

>> I WOULD PROBABLY VENTURE TO SAY THAT THE PEOPLE THAT ARE RECEIVING HEALTHCARE IN HOSPITALITY ESTABLISHMENTS ARE PROBABLY WORKING FOR BIGGER COMPANIES OR RESTAURANTS THAT HAVE A SUBSTANTIAL OR IMMENSE AMOUNT OF FINANCIAL BACKING BEHIND THEM.

AS FAR AS CONTENTO GOES, MOST PEOPLE THAT WORKED THERE HAD SECOND JOBS THAT PROVIDED THEM THOSE RESOURCES.

WE AS A RESTAURANT WERE NOT ABLE TO DO SO.

>> THAT MUST HAVE BEEN HARD, HERE YOU ARE AS A PERSON WHO UNDERSTOOD ON A VERY PERSONAL LEVEL THE IMPORTANCE OF ACCESS TO HEALTHCARE ON A CONSISTENT BASIS.

I AM JUST THINKING THAT MUST'VE BEEN HARD FOR YOU.

>> I WILL BE VERY HONEST WITH YOU, IT IS THE ONE THING THAT I AM NOT GOING TO MISS ABOUT CONTENTO , BECAUSE IT WAS THE ONE THING THAT I STRUGGLED WITH ON AN EVERYDAY BASIS.

AS SOMEONE WHO REALLY BELIEVES IN HEALTHCARE, THAT I MYSELF AS SOMEONE WHO WAS PART OF CONTENTO , THAT I WAS NOT ABLE TO PROVIDE ADEQUATE AND RESPECTABLE HEALTHCARE TO THESE INDIVIDUALS THAT ARE JUST UNBELIEVABLE.

GREATEST HUMAN BEINGS.

AND NOT BEING ABLE TO PROVIDE THAT WAS SOMETHING THAT WAS HARD FOR ME TO PUT MY HEAD ASLEEP AND I STRUGGLED WITH THAT.

AND THE REALITY OF IT IS THAT MOST PEOPLE ARE GOING WITHOUT IT .

EVEN WITH THE AFFORDABLE CARE ACT, IT IS QUITE AN EXPENSE TO PAY INTO IT.

THE DEDUCTIBLES CAN BE QUITE HIGH, THE COPAYMENT CAN BE QUITE HIGH.

IT IS NOT EXACTLY THE SOLUTION TO THE PROBLEM.

IT IS A GOOD STEP IN THE RIGHT DIRECTION, BUT LISTEN.

I DON'T KNOW WHY HEALTHCARE IS SO TABOO IN THIS COUNTRY.

I THINK THAT IF WE HAD ADEQUATE HEALTHCARE FOR ALL PEOPLE, YOU WOULD SEE ANXIETIES REDUCE.

AND I ALSO BELIEVE WE WOULD SEE MORE OF AN ENTREPRENEURIAL SPIRIT.

I OFTEN THINK THAT PEOPLE ARE MORE CONSERVATIVE WITH THE DECISIONS THAT THEY MAKE BECAUSE THERE IS NOT THAT SAFETY NET TO BE ABLE TO DO SO.

AND SO HAVING TO HAVE HEALTHCARE I THINK SHOULD BE A PRIORITY FOR ALL OF US.

AND I FIND IT SHOCKING THAT IN THIS LAST ELECTION, NO ONE REALLY BROUGHT IT UP.

IT WAS NOT A TOPIC OF CONVERSATION.

I MEAN, WE HAVE 62 MILLION AMERICANS THAT IDENTIFY AS HAVING A DISABILITY, RIGHT?

AND I AM SURE THE NUMBER IS EVEN HIGHER.

THAT IS QUITE A BIT.

THAT MEANS ONE IN FOUR AMERICANS.

AND SO WHY ARE WE JUST KIND OF CONSTANTLY SWEEPING THIS UNDER THE RUG?

>> ONE OF THE THINGS THAT YOU SAY IS, IN THIS BUSINESS, PEOPLE MIGHT GRAVITATE TOWARD -- A BIG CORPORATE ENTERPRISE, NO SHADE HERE, BUT, LIKE, A STARBUCKS, BECAUSE THEY OFFER BENEFITS.

BUT THIS PERSON MIGHT BE TALENTED IN AN OTHER AREA OF HOSPITALITY WHO MIGHT HAVE AN OPPORTUNITY TO OPEN A NEIGHBORHOOD RESTAURANT OR AN EATERY OR SOME OTHER ASPECT OF THE BUSINESS BUT THEY CAN'T BECAUSE THEY CAN'T AFFORD TO GO WITHOUT HEALTH INSURANCE.

HAVE YOU SEEN THAT?

HAVE YOU SEEN PEOPLE SORT OF FOREGOING MORE CREATIVE OPPORTUNITIES BECAUSE THEY HAD TO TAKE A JOB WITH BENEFITS?

>> I SEE IT ALL THE TIME.

I MEAN, I SEE IT ALL THE TIME.

I SEE PEOPLE THAT HAVE VERY CLOSE RELATIONSHIPS WITH THEIR PRIMARY PHYSICIAN, WITH THEIR GYNECOLOGIST, WITH THEIR UROLOGIST, RIGHT?

AND THEN THEY GET OFFERED A JOB THAT IS THIS GREAT OPPORTUNITY, RIGHT?

AND THEN THEY DO THEIR RESEARCH ABOUT THE INSURANCE THEY MIGHT BE OFFERED, BUT THEIR PRIMARY PHYSICIAN, THEIR GYNECOLOGIST, THEIR UROLOGIST, WHATEVER IT IS, IS NOW NO LONGER IN NETWORK BECAUSE THEY ARE BEING OFFERED A DIFFERENT PRIVATE HEALTH PLAN.

AND SO JUST THAT IN ITSELF IS A PROBLEM, YEAH.

AND SO PEOPLE AGAIN ARE MAKING DECISIONS THAT ARE LIMITED, THAT ARE LIMITING THEIR POTENTIAL.

AND THIS IS ALL -- A LOT OF IT HAS TO DO WITH HEALTHCARE.

I THINK THAT WE ARE MISSING OUT ON SO MUCH TALENT OUT HERE, AND IT IS NOT JUST ABOUT PEOPLE IN HOSPITALITY.

IT IS NOT JUST ABOUT PEOPLE THAT ARE COOKS OR WAITERS OR BARTENDERS.

BUT I AM TALKING ABOUT PEOPLE THAT ARE FREELANCE WRITERS, I AM TALKING ABOUT PEOPLE THAT ARE SINGERS AND DANCERS AND ARTISTS I GREW UP IN NEW YORK, I GREW UP IN HELLS KITCHEN IN THE 80s AND IT WAS A HABIT FOR PEOPLE TO COME INTO THE NEIGHBORHOOD, RIGHT?

THEY CAN AFFORD RENT, THEY CAN PURSUE THEIR CRAFT.

GET A JOB PART TIME.

AND THEY HAD ENOUGH MONEY TO PAY AND PROVIDE FOR THEMSELVES TO REALLY PURSUE THAT CRAFT AND THEIR PASSION.

AND WE HAVE COMPLETELY LOST THAT.

AND IT IS A REAL PITY.

AND I REALLY DO BELIEVE THAT WE CAN GET BACK TO THAT POINT BUT WE HAVE ALLOWED GREED AND IGNORANCE TO CONSUME US.

>> SO HERE IS WHERE I HAVE TO ASK A HARD QUESTION.

THERE ARE THOSE WHO MIGHT SAY, THAT IS A SHAME.

BUT EATING OUT IN A NICE RESTAURANT IS NOT A PRIORITY FOR THE COUNTRY.

SO WHAT WOULD YOU SAY TO THAT?

>> WELL I WOULD SAY THAT I WOULD RESPECT THAT AND I CAN UNDERSTAND WHERE THAT IS COMING FROM.

WE ARE HONESTLY AN AMENITY IN MANY WAYS, RIGHT?

I AM NOT HERE TO SAY THAT WE NEED TO HAVE AND WE ARE GOING TO MAKE THE WORLD A BETTER PLACE WITHOUT A DOUBT.

I FULLY UNDERSTAND THAT ASPECT.

BUT ARE WE GOING TO SAY THAT WE DON'T NEED BROADWAY SHOWS?

I THINK ALL OF THESE ASPECTS, THEY BRING JOY TO OUR LIVES, RIGHT?

SO WHY ELIMINATE THEM?

I THINK THEY MAKE THE WORLD A BETTER PLACE.

DO I THINK THEY ARE A PRIORITY?

I DON'T KNOW.

BUT HERE IS WHAT I WILL SAY TO THIS.

WE KNOW THE RESTAURANT INDUSTRY IS ONE OF THE FEW INDUSTRIES THAT GIVES PEOPLE A SECOND CHANCE, RIGHT?

PEOPLE THAT ARE CONVICTED CRIMINALS WHO ARE REFORM TO COME OUT AND ARE LOOKING FOR A SECOND CHANCE, RESTAURANT BUSINESS GENERALLY GIVE THAT TO THEM.

PEOPLE THAT ARE UNDOCUMENTED THAT ARE DESPERATELY TRYING TO FEED THEIR FAMILIES USUALLY THAT IS A PLACE WHERE THEY CAN PROVIDE THAT.

NOW WHETHER YOU AGREE WITH THAT OR NOT, IT IS A PLACE OF SECOND CHANCES.

AND THAT IS THE BEAUTY OF THE RESTAURANT BUSINESS.

>> ONE OF THE THINGS YOU TALKED ABOUT IN YOUR PIECE IS THE IDEA OF, I THINK MANY PEOPLE WILL REMEMBER DURING THE PANDEMIC THERE WERE A NUMBER OF SUBCOMMITTEES OFFERED TO BUSINESSES TO HELP KEEP THEM AFLOAT.

RIGHT?

ONE OF YOUR IDEAS IS THAT THE RESTAURANT INDUSTRY COULD HAVE SUBSIDIES SIMILAR TO THE CARES ACT FUNDING FOR AIRLINES, WHEN THEY WERE IN SO MUCH TROUBLE AFTER THE 9/11 ATTACKS.

WHAT WOULD THAT LOOK LIKE?

AND HOW WOULD THAT WORK?

>> THAT IS A GREAT QUESTION AND IT IS A COMPLICATED ONE, BUT JUST TO KIND OF SIMPLIFY MY ANSWER TO YOU, BUT I THINK, YOU KNOW, WHAT IF WE JUST ALL GOT TOGETHER, ALL THE BIG CHAIN RESTAURANTS, AND CREATED ONE BIG UNIFIED ASSOCIATION, RIGHT?

SO WHEN SOMEONE DOES GET SEVERELY INJURED, RIGHT?

THAT THERE IS SOMETHING WAITING FOR THEM AND WE CAN SUPPORT THEM.

AND THEN HAVING ONE BIG UMBRELLA WHERE WE ALL HAVE THE SAME IN NETWORK HEALTH INSURANCE.

JUST SOMETHING WHERE WE ARE ALL SUPPORTING EACH OTHER.

IN MY ARTICLE, I MENTIONED, STARBUCKS, APPLEBEE'S, ALL THESE BIG -- THEY ARE IMPORTANT.

THEY HAVE VALUE TO THEMSELVES, RIGHT?

AND I THINK THAT THESE BIGGER COMPANIES CAN REALLY HAVE A BIG POSITIVE IMPACT IF WE CAN INCORPORATE SOME OF THESE SMALL MOM AND POP RESTAURANTS.

AND I THINK THAT ONE HAND HELPS THE OTHER AT THE END OF THE DAY.

AND I THINK VICE VERSA.

AND SO I THINK THAT JUST TRYING TO CREATE ONE SOLID ASSOCIATION IS REALLY THE BEST WAY FORWARD.

>> SO IF YOU DON'T MIND MY ASKING, WHAT WAS THAT LAST DAY LIKE?

>> I THINK IT WASN'T SO MUCH THE LAST DAY.

I THINK IT WAS MORE, YOU KNOW, COMING TO THE REALIZATION AND HAVING TO SAY, WE HAVE GOT TO CLOSE.

THIS IS JUST NOT GOING TO HAPPEN.

I THINK THE HARDEST PART OF HAVING TO MAKE THIS DECISION WAS THAT THERE WERE PEOPLE WHO REALLY BELIEVED IN ME, WHO SUPPORTED ME, WHO BECAME INVESTORS AND THEIR FRIENDS AND HAVING TO REACH OUT TO THEM AND SAY, I'M SORRY, BUT YOU KNOW, WE TRIED OUR BEST, BUT WE HAVE TO CLOSE THE RESTAURANT.

AND THEN HAVING TO MAKE THAT ANNOUNCEMENT BE A SOCIAL MEDIA.

AND THEN SEEING PEOPLE FACE-TO- FACE AND NO ONE DOES IT ON PURPOSE, BUT, YOU KNOW, I AM REALLY SORRY, THAT SORT OF, I FEEL SORRY FOR YOU KIND OF LOOK, AND THAT IS HARD.

IT IS KIND OF HUMBLING TO GO THROUGH THAT EXPERIENCE.

BUT IT IS WHAT IT IS.

AND I TELL PEOPLE, PLEASE DON'T FEEL SORRY FOR ME.

I WAS REALLY GIVEN A GIFT.

I FELT THE EMOTION OF WHAT IT WAS LIKE TO HAVE A GREAT RESTAURANT.

I FEEL LIKE WE HAD A GREAT IMPACT.

I THINK WE SHOWED THE WORLD THAT PEOPLE WITH DISABILITIES CAN BE PART OF THE HOSPITALITY INDUSTRY.

WE ALSO SHOW THAT IF YOU BUILD SOMETHING SPECIAL AND INCLUSIVE THAT PEOPLE WITH DISABILITIES WILL COME TO YOUR ESTABLISHMENT.

LISTEN.

THE POPULATION, THE 62 MILLION AMERICANS, THEY HAVE OVER $1 BILLION OF SPENDING POWER.

LET'S NOT FORGET THAT.

I THINK IN MANY WAYS, WE DID PUT THAT AS AN IMPORTANT TOPIC AND I HOPE THAT OTHER HOSPITALITY ESTABLISHMENTS WILL CONTINUE THAT CONVERSATION.

>> SO WHAT IS NEXT FOR YOU?

>> THAT IS A GREAT QUESTION.

I HAVE TWO BEAUTIFUL DOGS, I WANT TO PLAY WITH THEM MORE.

I WANT TO HAVE MORE MOMENTS OF STILLNESS WITH MY WIFE.

I WANT TO DO A LOT MORE WRITING.

I AM CURRENTLY WRITING A BOOK WITH A GOOD FRIEND OF MINE.

AND, TO TALK ABOUT MY EXPERIENCES, IN HOSPITALITY AND WHAT IT IS LIKE TO BE A PERSON WITH A DISABILITY AND NAVIGATING HOSPITALITY.

AND THAT IS IT.

REALLY, I HAVE A GREAT JOB RIGHT NOW.

I HAVE BEEN PART OF THE SAME PLACE FOR WELL OVER 12 YEARS ON AND OFF.

AND I LOVE IT.

I MEAN, LISTEN.

I'M GOING TO BE HONEST WITH YOU.

I AM SO GRATEFUL AND EVEN WHEN I REACHED OUT TO ALL MY INVESTORS TO LET THEM KNOW THAT I WAS CLOSING THE RESTAURANT, EVERYBODY, MIKE, WAS SO KIND.

EVEN ME TALKING TO YOU ABOUT THIS, I AM SO EMOTIONAL.

I AM THE LUCKIEST HUMAN BEING ON EARTH, DESPITE ALL OF THIS.

AND I CAN BE IN MUCH WORSE SITUATIONS.

I REALIZE THAT I HAVE TONS OF PRIVILEGE, BUT I AM GRATEFUL FOR EVERY MOMENT.

SO I AM GOING TO TELL YOU RIGHT NOW, MORE MOMENTS OF STILLNESS.

>> THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR TALKING WITH US.

>> THANK YOU SO MUCH.