ICYMI: Port Jefferson Restaurateur: 'Please Support Us'

PORT JEFFERSON, NY — The coronavirus pandemic has forced merchants across the country to think on the fly as they adapt to a world full of new regulations, tight budgets and general instability.

Lisa Harris, owner of three Port Jefferson shops, endured the loss of one store, made tough COVID-19-related business decisions and put serious thought into how she would approach the possibility of a second shutdown. Harris runs Prohibition, a comfort food restaurant; Torte Jeff, a pie shop that evolved into a mini-gourmet grocer; and East Main & Main donut shop.
Despite everything the pandemic has thrown at entrepreneurs, Harris is confident her trio of eateries will survive.

"What I've seen is that even in limited amounts, people enjoy coming [to Prohibition]," Harris told Patch. "I think we've created an experience for people. I think that's a reason why our takeout isn't as huge as a lot of other restaurants are, because we have the whole experience. People come here and they like the atmosphere, they love our staff and our servers."

Harris also founded Fork & Fiddle, a restaurant geared towards a "southern tasting experience," in December 2019. The restaurant did well at first before slowing down in January and February as the weather got cold, Harris said. While Fork & Fiddle received strong support from Prohibition customers, the coronavirus shutdown of in-store service at restaurants effectively killed the newest addition to Harris' portfolio.

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