Fundraiser Started To Keep Inwood's Capitol Diner Open

INWOOD, NY — One of the neighborhood's oldest restaurants is asking for help to stay open after the coronavirus pandemic.

Capitol Diner has started a GoFundMe hoping to raise $45,000 so that it can survive the coronavirus pandemic, which forced all restaurants to close to dine-in customers starting March 17.

"Unfortunately, due to the COVID-19...pandemic we had to cut back on staff and some do not qualify for any of the assistance that other business/people are getting," the restaurant wrote. "Our goal is to therefore raise money for our family and diner to survive until we can once again fully open our service back to the Inwood community."

(To keep up with coronavirus news in Washington Heights and Inwood, subscribe to Patch to receive daily newsletters and breaking news alerts.)

The Capitol Diner, which got new owners last year, is the oldest continuously operated restaurant in Inwood, according to a tribute to the eatery in My Inwood.

The restaurant has been open since at least the 1920s, though it has been called different names including the Coffee Pot and The Capitol Restaurant over the years.

The restaurant said that those who would like to make a donation can also reach out by emailing atcapitoldiner4933@gmail.com. Capitol Diner did not immediately respond to Patch's request for comment about the fundraiser.

The GoFundMe is one several fundraisers that have been set up to help New York City's restaurant industry during the coronavirus stay-at-home order.

The pandemic's financial strain most recently claimed Washington Heights staple Coogan's,which announced last week that it would not be able to reopen at the end of the pandemic.

Local business improvement districts have also thrown their efforts behind restaurants by keeping track of which businesses are still open, if only for delivery, and how best to help them.

Coronavirus In NYC: What's Happened And What You Need To Know