"We need some help." Buffalo bar and restaurant owners say loan programs don't work for them

Congress is working on a deal to pump an additional $310 billion into the Paychek Protection Program after funds ran dry last week - but bars and restaurants say even if that happens, they need a different from of help, because the PPP wasn't designed for them.

WE HERE AT 7EYEWITNESS NEWSWANT TO GUIDE YOUTHRU THE MANYCHALLENGES OF THISPANDEMIC WITH THEREBOUND BUFFALO --IT'S OUR COMMITMENTTO HELPING YOU FINDA JOB, MAKE ENDSMEET, MANAGE THEPRESSURE... ANDENSURE PEOPLE INPOWER ARE DOINGWHAT'S RIGHT.AND THIS MORNING --KATIE EXPLAINS WHYRESTAURANTS ARENOW STUCK IN ADILEMMA.ED--RIGHT NOW --LAWMAKERS ONCAPITOL HILL ARESTILL WORKING ON ADEAL TO PUMPANOTHER 310 BILLIONDOLLARS INTO THEPAYCHECKPROTECTIONPROGRATHAT PROGRAM RANDRY LAST WEEBUT STILL -- SOMEBUSINESSES SAY THE"P-P-P" IS NOT THERIGHT FIT FOR THEM -THEY SAY THEY NEEDSOMETHING ELSE TOGET BACK ON TRACK.LINES OF EMPTY BARSTOOLS.THIS HAS BEEN SCENEAT FRIZZY'S BAR ANDGRILL IN BUFFALO'SALLENTOWNNEIGHBORHOODSINCE MARCH 16THIT'S BEEN A MONTH, SOWE'VE HAD NOREVENUE IN.OWNER MARCFRISICAROTEMPORARILY SHUTTHE BAR'S DOORSAFTER NEW YORKSTATE ORDERED BARSAND RESTAURANTSMOVE TO TAKEOUTONLY.THAT WAY, HIS 12EMPLOYEES COULDCOLLECTUNEMPLOYMENT,WHILE HE PLANNEDFOR WHAT WOULDCOME NEXT.WE'RE STUCK WITH ALLTHAT PRODUCT NOWAND HAVE ALL THESEBILLS TO PAY.

WE HAVEINSURANCE, SALES TAXWAS DUE, MY LIQUORLICENSE EXPIRED AND IHAD TO RENEW IT, SOTHAT WAS ANOTHERTHREE THOUSADOLLARS.AT FIRST, FRISICAROTURNED TO THEPAYCHECKPROTECTIONPROGRAM - OR PPP -TOUTED AS A WAY FORSMALL BUSINESSES TOKEEP PAYINGEMPLOYEES AND STAYAFLOAT DURINGTHESE TIMES.BUT HE SAYSQUICKLY REALIZED - ITWOULDN'T BE A GOODOPTION FOR A SMALLBAR LIKE HIS.MY EMPLOYEES - MOSTOF THEM AREBARTENDERS.

ANDTHEIR INCOME ISMOSTLY ON THEIR TIPS.UNDER THEPROGRAM, FRISICAROWOULD HAVE TO USETHE MONEY FOREMPLOYEE PAYROLL.BUT SAYS THATDOESN'T MAKE SENSEFOR BARTENDERS,WHO RELY ON TIPS.WITH UNEMPLOYMENTTHEY'RE MAKING 500PLUS THE 600 ON TOPOF THAT.

SO THAT'S1100 DOLLARS A WEEK,AND IT'S MORE THAN IFI TOOK THE PPP LOAN,THEY'D JUST BEGETTING THEIRHOURLY WAGE WITHNO TIPS.WE WOULD LOVE TOSEE SOME KIND OFSPECIFIC RESTAURANTINDUSTRY RECOVERYFUND MADE AVAILABLETO THIS INDUSTRY.

IT'SJUST BEEN ADEVASTATING IMPACTACROSS THE BOARDON THE INDUSTRY.MELISSA FLEISCHUT ISTHE PRESIDENT ANDCEO OF THE NYSRESTAURANTASSOCIATION.THE GROUP ISPUSHING CONGRESSTO ADD MORE MONEYTO THE PPP - BUTALSO TO CONSIDERTHE FACT THATRESTAURANTSOPERATE VERYDIFFERENTLY THANOTHER SMALLBUSINESSES.I DO THINK CONGRESSWILL ADDRESS THIS.

IDO THINK THEY WILLADD ADDITIONALFUNDING.

WE DON'TTHINK IT'S A SILVERBULLET.

WE NEED TOCONTINUE TO ASK FORMORE HELPSPECIFICALLY FOR TRESTAURANTINDUSTRY.FLEISCHUT SAYSTHERE ARE SOMEGRANT AND LOANPROGRAMS THROUGHTHE SMALL BUSINESSADMINISTRATION THATCOULD BE HELPFUL -BUT THERE ARE MORETHAN 50 THOUSANDBARS ANDRESTAURANTS IN NEWYORK STATE ALONE.FRISICARO SAYS IT'SSCARY TO THINKABOUT WHAT COULDHAPPEN TO MANY OFTHEM.IT'S JUST A SIT ANDWAIT GAME.

I DON'TKNOW HOW MANYMONTHS IT'S GOING TOGO.

A LOT OF THESEBUSINESSES AREGOING TO GO OUT OFBUSINESS.WE DO NEED SOMEHELP.

I WISH THEGOVERNMENT WOULDTHINK ABOUT ADIFFERENT WAY TOHELP US IN THEHOSPITALITYBUSINESS.

BECAUSEWE SURE COULD USETHE HELP.THE NYS RESTAURANTASSOCIATION ISCONTINUING TO TATO MEMBERS OFCONGRESS NAD SAYTHEY'RE GOING TOPUSH FOR ARESTAURANT SPECIFICPROGRAM.IN THE MEANTIME, IPUT MOREINFORMATION, AND ALINK TO THE SMALLBUSINESS GRANT ANDLOAN PROGRAM THATMIGHT BE HELPFUL ONOUR WEBSITE, WKBWDOT COM.