Owner of NYC's oldest restaurant slams Cuomo’s coronavirus indoor dining ban, says business may not survive

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Manhattan's oldest restaurant at risk of closing amid threat of second indoor dining ban

Eddie Travers, proprietor of New York City's Fraunces Tavern, insists indoor dining at his restaurant is safe on 'Fox & Friends.'

A New York City restaurant owner said Gov. Andrew Cuomo’s latest coronavirus restrictions could be the final nail in the coffin for his business.

Cuomo recently warned state residents should prepare themselves for the possibility of another shutdown if coronavirus cases continue to surge during the holidays.

NEW YORK CITY’S OLDEST TAVERN AT RISK OF GOING OUT OF BUSINESS

Fraunces Tavern proprietor Eddie Travers told "Fox & Friends" Wednesday he is "trying to fight against" the indoor dining ban to keep his business afloat. Travers went on to say he doesn’t want to lay off his staff before the Christmas holiday.

The colonial American tavern has been operating since 1762 during the time of the American Revolution and even hosted historical figures like George Washington and Continental Army officers. Fraunces Tavern is Manhattan’s oldest restaurant.

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Travers explained he was only able to survive the past nine months during the pandemic with the assistance of the Payment Protection Program funds.

"The PPP was a great help for us. It gave us the opportunity to stay open and keep our employees employed and keep them off unemployment. That was really the beauty of it, but now that the weather has got cold, we might have a dozen people inside the whole day. It’s not going to cut it," Travers said.

The Fraunces Tavern proprietor argued against Cuomo’s coronavirus restrictions, saying the governor "released his data on infections and it was 1.7% for indoor dining, 74% at home.

"You know, logically thinking, if restaurants are closed and people don’t have a place to socialize, they are going to socialize at home, and it’s going to spike it even further."

Travers said indoor dining is "safe" with proper air ventilation and social distancing. 

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The tavern is selling merchandise and gift baskets to help with the financial burden on its business.