City Winery's COVID Test: Clearing Half Truths and Misconceptions

The new City Winery on a Hudson River pier is the flagship
for a national chain of restaurants and music venues

Alarmed musicians and music lovers reacted immediately and strongly to the news last week that City Winery would begin conducting mandatory Covid tests on its customers and charging them $50. While this basic information is true, it lacks the details that explain that the test is a pilot program and will be enforced on two out of seven days each week, and perhaps only for a limited time.

Starting tomorrow, diners at the new City Winery must test for Covid-19 upon entry on Tuesdays and Wednesdays. A certified health professional will administer a shallow nasal swab, and customers will pay $50. All City Winery employees also will take this test before entering in order to ensure that everyone on the premises is tested on those days. This rapid-test policy will continue on Tuesdays and Wednesdays only through the remainder of 2020.

Temperature checks are mandatory every day, but COVID tests
will be enforced on Tuesdays and Wednesdays only

"We believe that hospitality is all about making our customers comfortable and, given the pandemic, that starts with feeling safe," reads the announcement posted on the venue's website. "With the change of the seasons, finding the next level of safety for people to dine indoors is critical. With that in mind, we are launching a pilot program of rapid Covid-19 testing."

Customers will wait in the reception area for the test results, and the City Winery staff will serve the guests a glass of City Winery Bubbles. Within 10 to 15 minutes, the health professional will reveal the results. If the result is negative, the guest will enter the dining area, mask in place, and continue to practice all proper socially-distanced protocols. If the result is positive, City Winery will offer a PCR test sent to a partnered CLIA lab and 24 hours to validate the results, but the individual will not be permitted to enter the premises.

At 25% capacity, all tables are very far apart

Since the initial announcement a week ago, City Winery's new rapid-test policy has been a frequent topic of conversation within live music circles. Many musicians and music lovers are not objecting to being tested but rather to the cost of the test. City Winery's announcement assures its patrons that 100% of the fee will go to the testing company.

"The testing kits, machines, and certified nurse is costing us about $60 per person and yet, we are charging $50," Michael Dorf, CEO and founder of the City Winery chain of restaurants and music venues, explained to this reporter. "Add to that, my 40 staff members will be testing on Tuesday morning. That is $2000 out of pocket. I really wish these tests were $10 each or free or, even better, paid for by our insurance company, New York State or the federal government, someone other than me and our customers."

Joseph Arthur performed on November 17

At City Winery, the mandatory rapid test on customers is a pilot program, which explains why it is being conducted on only two days at the present time. A later review will determine whether to expand or abandon the program in 2021.

"We have sold out totally for all our dinner reservations this week, which is the first time since opening," add Dorf. "Clearly, this has been a home-run for some people. It sucks that some people cannot afford the test and I am very torn about that. On balance, this might be indicative of a solution to balancing out safety with doing business from now until the vaccine is in enough people’s arms that we get societal herd immunity and it is safe out and restrictions are lifted.

"If we can bridge between now and then, ideally bringing the cost of testing down a lot, it is the best solution to moving forward. So, we are testing this week. Let us hope a philanthropist steps in and under rights it for the bridge or prices come down soon," concluded Dorf. "We need to stay open, we need to stop the spread, and we need to find a way to get the microeconomy of the live entertainment world working again. We are trying."

Hollis Brown performed on November 15

City Winery has enforced other safety protocols since its mid-October opening on Pier 57 (25 11th Avenue near West 15th Street). The indoor dining area has MERV-13 air filters with higher efficiency filtration capabilities to capture more particles. The welcoming staff, always masked, takes the temperature and conducts a wellness survey on all patrons upon entry. Once inside, masked staff members escort the patrons to tables which are set a minimum of eight feet apart. All wait staff wear masks and gloves. Patrons can order food and beverages through their phones without touching a physical menu. A slide show on two large screens repeatedly reminds customers to wear masks when the staff approaches and when moving to and from their table. These safety practices will continue every day.

Jimmy & Immy (James Maddock & David Immergluck)
performed on November 13

Neither the musicians, their crews, nor the audiences that come to the concert performances at City Winery will be impacted by the new rapid test requirement, and will not incur the $50 surcharge. Live music is presented on Thursday through Sunday evenings. At present, the rapid test is not being administered on these nights.

Ethan Eubanks with Marcus Milius and Tony Scherr performed on November 12

The larger question, which remains unanswered, is whether rapid testing will become the new normal. Will other establishments, from sidewalk cafes to sports arenas, adopt a similar policy?

The Detroit Grease performed on November 13