Apartment Guide released a decidedly unscientific but fun survey naming the Top 10 Most Irish Cities in America. Erie tied for fifth place with Bloomington, Illinois, by two criteria: percentage of the Irish population, which the survey pegged at 13%, and Irish businesses per 100,000 people, which was counted at 7.33. I m not sure what they included, but they mentioned bars and restaurants and the Irish Festival.
Interestingly, by the magazine s criteria, No. 1 on the list was not Boston, as you might expect, but Warwick, Rhode Island, with a percentage of the Irish population of 26.58%, and Irish businesses per 100,000 people of 7.41.
If you feel strongly about the Southern dish grits, or just like some good blues, check out the video by caterer and musician Mario Scroggins of Dallas, Texas, singing Sugar Don t Go On Grits, shared last weekend on the Facebook page of Erie restaurant
Dealing with the COVID-19 pandemic has been a 10-month battle of challenges and obstacles for Erie-region small-business owners.
African-American business owners in Erie have felt the effects of the pandemic, and some are relying on promotions, gift-giving options and creative ways to entice customers and generate revenue during the Christmas season.
For owners whose businesses have remained closed during the pandemic, they are hopeful of reopening during the holidays, perhaps attaining some relief with a late-year economic shot in the arm.
Faced with surging COVID-19 cases regionally and nationally, many minority entrepreneurs are hoping to salvage a Christmas shopping season that continues to be significantly affected by additional state and COVID-19 mitigation restrictions.