October 23, 2025
Behind Shut Doors: New Ruan’s Reaction to COVID-19
By Nic Wong
By Veralyn Vislocky
No one could have predicted the worldwide pandemic that began in 2019, nor the devastation it would cause to people and businesses. Jimmy Rong, the owner of New Ruan’s, was just one of the billions of people impacted by COVID-19. New Ruan’s is a small, family-owned restaurant nestled in Bensonhurst, Brooklyn. Since 1991, New Ruan’s has been a warm, welcoming spot for locals seeking Chinese food. From dishes like classic chow mein to various creations featuring clams, oysters, and steak, they have it all. It has been a go-to spot for me and my family to get together for as long as I can remember, as it has been for many others.
New Ruan’s faced an uncertain future once the pandemic hit in early 2020. Fewer people began to come in when news of the virus started spreading. Employees wore masks and gloves constantly, and getting your temperature read at the door became the new norm. Yet the virus kept spreading even with all the precautions taken by people across the world. These precautions led to strict rules being introduced to attempt to stop the number of people with Covid from growing. New mandates were introduced, and the restaurant had to close its doors just like other small businesses. The fear and confusion that everyone was feeling was unprecedented, including Jimmy and his staff. The restaurant that he had built for almost three decades now had an uncertain future because of the virus. “I honestly had no idea what to do. I was just waiting it out… seeing what the city would say about the virus next and what that would mean for the restaurant. I just kept praying for the best, every night.”
Delivery and takeout quickly became their main and only service. Their expanded takeout and delivery options allowed people to order from them on platforms like Ubereats, Grubhub, and Yelp. This was a big adjustment compared to how the restaurant was before the quarantine. Typically, tables were filled all around with people and families that have built close relationships with the staff throughout the years. The atmosphere was lively and friendly, making the now-bare restaurant look sad in comparison. This forced change was different than anything the customers or staff had been through before. Yet, even though things weren’t the same, as time went on things felt a little smoother. New Ruan’s was still up and running, which couldn’t be said about many other businesses.
The physical changes weren’t the only issue. Now that New Ruan’s was unable to host customers in person, they began to struggle financially. The establishment is both a restaurant and bar, and most of their customers over the years dined in. The decrease in sales and profit led to some tough decision making. Jimmy now had to implement reduced hours, temporary layoffs, and more to counter declining cash flow. Even through this, he was still motivated and committed to keeping the restaurant running through this difficult time.. “I was feeling scared after working here so long that we would have to close down. When I was looking at the news each day, I only got more concerned.”
What kept New Ruan’s going was all the support from the local community. The same neighbors that supported the business in its initial stages were now ordering takeout. The friendly relationships Jimmy and all of the staff formed with everyone over the years led to him having a strong support system, personally and professionally too. The money made collectively throughout the years from everyone coming to his restaurant and the continued support through the uncertain time of Covid is what made it possible for the restaurant to keep its doors open.
Between 2021 and 2022, many businesses started introducing outdoor seating. It was a way to allow people to finally come back and dine at their favorite restaurants again, while minimizing the chances of getting Covid. New Ruan’s got outdoor seating during this time as well, and slowly things began to feel normal again. The staff even transformed the plain wooden structure into something more with string lights and potted plants. The ambiance was similar to that of the indoor setup, and slowly but surely people began to return to the restaurant. The customers and staff were now face to face talking again, the interactions more genuine and warm than ordering behind a screen. “The virus forced us to stop and question what’s important. It’s not just the food, it’s the people who come here every day, our relationships with one another,” noted Jimmy.
Today, New Ruan’s is thriving again, now featuring both the outdoor seating area used during covid and their classic indoor seating. The resilience of the staff who stuck around during the tough time and the support of the community really carried the restaurant. The journey from surviving to thriving was hard and long, yet New Ruan’s did so by adapting and sticking it out through thick and thin.
So many in our local community were deeply affected by the virus. Many had to shut down their businesses and were left with large amounts of debt. Looking back now, we can study the differences in the steps taken by other business owners who had to shut down compared to restaurants who stuck it out, like New Ruan’s. It offers insight to the benefits that a community does for your business. During a time of crisis, everyone came together and supported each other from afar. This story not only reflects on the pandemic, it’s an example of resilience and community for businesses and people in general.
