Eric Silverstein of The Peached Tortilla: Surviving the Lockdown

Episodes

Oct 12

Written By

Today, I’m talking with Austin native and restaurant owner Eric Silverstein.

Eric’s spent over ten years building up his businesses and is the owner and founder of The Peached Tortilla.

But with the pandemic and the lockdown it brought, his business went from being hugely successful to just barely surviving. He explains how his business has been devastated by the pandemic and the possibility of it ever recovering.

Having to innovate to survive, he tells me how he’s been able to keep income coming in and the new avenues he’s been looking at...

“Tough people last, tough times don’t. This just happens to be a really long tough time.” - Eric Silverstein

Time Stamps:

07:24 - How badly the pandemic has hit Eric’s businesses.
13:05 - The difficulty there is for restaurants to survive.
18:04 - Trump getting COVID and how Eric’s life has changed since the pandemic.
22:12 - How Eric had to close most of his businesses and how he overcame this slump.
24:52 - Ghost kitchens and the importance of taking control sometimes.
27:24 - What policies should have been put in place, and what are the problems with the policies that have been?
34:48 - The incredible ways the Austin community has supported the food industry during this time.
36:19 - The difficulties of raising children and running a business during the pandemic.
39:33 - How open people in Austin have been to the COVID-19 safety measures Eric has had to implement at his restaurant.
42:33 - The positive things that will come out of COVID.
47:16 - The best things people can do to support the restaurant industry right now.