Main Street, meaning "we the people," and Main Street, meaning the civic and commercial centers of our cities, are taking body blows through this pandemic. One example of this is the closing of Coogan's restaurant in Northern Manhattan. Coogan's survived Presbyterian Hospital's rent-gauging by the concerted action of friends of Coogan's, helped by Times' report Jim Dwyer and playwright Lin Manuel Miranda. But too many expenses couldn't be defrayed and this venerable and important anchor of Broadway has been forced to shutter its doors. When we reopen New York, some chain store, that hijacked the small business loan fund to survive, will move in with no care for the neighborhood, not like Coogan's cared. This is a sad day for all of us.
Coogan's weathered so many storms and was a gift to the community. How we as a people react to this tiny bit of RNA called coronavirus will tell the tale. Hoping for local small businesses instead of chain stores and restaurants, among other community projects.
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