UES Tailor Reopens In Defiance Of Social Distancing: Report

UPPER EAST SIDE, NY — An Upper East Side tailor is reopening his business in defiance with state social distancing mandates to curb the spread of the deadly coronavirus outbreak, which has killed more than 17,000 people across New York, according to reports.

Eliot Rabin, the owner of Lexington Avenue high-end men's boutique Peter Eliot, reopened his store Wednesday despite clothing stores being deemed non-essential by New York State, the New York Post first reported. Rabin objected to clothing store's being forced to close when businesses like liquor stores stay open.

The business owner told the New York Post that any punishments for reopening may be less severe than the cost of staying closed. Peter Eliot has cut its staff from 21 to 12 employees during the state-mandated shutdown, according to the report.

"I’m doing what I think is right to protect my business and employees from this disaster," Rabin told the Post.

Rabin told the Post he's taking precautions to prevent the spread of the coronavirus among his clients and staff. The store will limit the number of customers allowed inside at a given time, and only two employees will work in the Lexington Avenue business alongside Rabin, according to the report.

New York Gov. Andrew Cuomo announced Monday that the state will begin to lift stay-at-home restrictions in parts of the state starting May 15. The lifting of stay at home restrictions will take place in regions which were not badly hit by the new coronavirus, mainly in upstate New York.

New York City, which has suffered through one of the worst coronavirus outbreaks in the world, will not be included in Cuomo's plan, the governor announced Monday. The virus has infected 156,100 New York City residents, killing a confirmed 11,708 with 5,228 probable deaths, according to city data as of Monday morning.

Read the full NY Post report here.