COVID-19’s Impact on the City of Detroit with Dennis Archer Jr.

FAQs

• How has COVID-19 affected downtown Detroit restaurants?

  Archer said his restaurant, Central Kitchen + Bar, closed rather than offer carryout because its carryout business during the regular workday did not justify staying open for that alone. He said that given how many restaurants were only a year or two old, some probably will not reopen, and some that were already deciding whether to stay in business may use this to make up their minds.

• What is happening with rent for Archer's restaurant during the shutdown?

  Archer said his restaurant’s landlord, Bedrock, is waiving rent. With all employees moved to unemployment and no food or beverages being bought from suppliers, he said the restaurant has essentially no expenses and no income, and that as long as landlords are fair to their tenants, he thinks most restaurants should be able to come back.

• Why does Archer think Detroit is being hit especially hard by COVID-19?

  Archer said he is not an expert, but pointed to 37% of Detroiters living below the poverty line and the city’s large African American population, saying African Americans are predisposed to diabetes, high blood pressure and other conditions that make it harder to fight the virus. He said together those factors make the city an easier target.

• What grade does Dennis Archer Jr. give Governor Whitmer for handling the crisis?

  Archer said a rating normally needs a comparison, and the only one he sees daily is New York Governor Andrew Cuomo. He said that given what she has to work with, he would put her on par with Cuomo, around an 8 or 9, adding that he does not know what a 10 looks like because so much is out of a governor’s control.

• What was it like growing up as the son of Dennis Archer?

  Archer said that despite being busy, his father made his sporting events and got up in the morning to make breakfast for him and his brother before school. He said being the son of a politician meant supporters extended their support to the whole family, while detractors spread their criticism to the whole family.