How this former N.J. governor is helping businesses hurt by the pandemic – NJ.com

Regla Cathy Gonzalez wasn’t sure how her fine dining restaurant would fare after three months of being shut down in the coronavirus pandemic. On one particular day, she said, she was feeling at her worst and extremely depressed over the downturn of the business.

But suddenly, she said her prayers were answered.

Standing in the middle of a Costco parking lot while aimlessly searching for her car, Gonzalez received a call from state Sen. Richard Codey, a former governor, who told her he wanted to visit the restaurant and help out – he’d give a check to the owner, and pick up the first $10 off any meal on a slow day.

“I was in shock. It was an honor and I just couldn’t believe he wanted to help me out,” said Gonzalez. “We’ve been hurt a lot so it’s a relief. It was such a bad day and that really, it turned it around.”

The Morris County restaurant wasn’t the only one Codey, D-Essex has lent a hand. Since the beginning of the coronavirus pandemic, he has helped out at least eight restaurants and countless people, by giving them money out of his own pocket — roughly $40,000, by his estimates.

From King’s in Newark to a diner in Boonton, Codey has visited restaurants across North Jersey in middle- to low-income class neighborhoods to support the small businesses who have suffered from the nearly statewide shutdown of dining at eateries.

Raised in a small apartment above a funeral home with his four siblings, Codey saw how his parents sacrificed so much so they could be the first in their family to attend college.

“They gave it all up so that five children could have the opportunity to go to college. It’s just the example of doing something good. My kids see me do it all the time, and hopefully they’ll do it too,” said Codey.

So when it became clear restaurants would take a big hit during the pandemic, he decided to help out.

Staff at East Orange General Hospital and Saint Barnabas Medical Center were treated to meals from local restaurants, and a Whippany nursing home was served dinner at Codey’s expense. He’s also visited the Ridgedale Diner and Starlight Pizza in West Orange

And in May when he helped out Dave’s Deli in Caldwell, he said the store saw some of the biggest sales they had seen since the start of the pandemic.

“They had to shut down their ordering for an hour because it just got so busy,” he added.

While some restaurants are starting to reopen and prepare for indoor dining to begin on July 2, many have been struggling to make up for the money they lost while forced to resort to takeout. Unfortunately, Gonzalez said, takeout at a fine dining restaurant is not as simple as pizza or Chinese food.

She estimates she’s lost more than 50% of profits at the restaurant her father left her when he died in 2017.

“I’m really trying to keep the business going for my dad,” she said. “I was just praying for help and I got the call. It was so crazy. God answered my prayers, so I got very emotional.”

And as the coronavirus continues, Codey will keep reaching into his pocket, he said.

“We’re not finished, not by any means,” he said. “This virus isn’t over, and when it comes back, we’ll keep going.”

Our journalism needs your support. Please subscribe today to NJ.com.

Sophie Nieto-Munoz may be reached at snietomunoz@njadvancemedia.com. Follow her at @snietomunoz.

Have a tip? Tell us. nj.com/tips