Telly Hatzigeorgiou owns the venue Slate NY in the Flatiron District and wants answers from the city on when night clubs can reopen.

"We experienced 9/11, we experienced 2008, and I felt I was bulletproof until this happened," Hatzigeorgiou said.

The club celebrated its 20th anniversary in February, he put in more than $1 million in upgrades from a slide to new lighting, and now he doesn't know when they'll be put to use.

"Our biggest issue right now is a plan so we know. I have all our staff, our family, calling me on a regular basis, 'When can I come back?'" Hatzigeorgiou said.

In a briefing this week, Mayor Bill de Blasio gave no timetable for when indoor dining might resume or when nightclubs might be able to reopen.

The lack of guidance has forced Hatzigeorgiou to get creative.

He's trying to get part of West 21st Street closed so he can put some tables or arcade games outside just to bring some life back to the neighborhood.

But that would be nothing like a busy night at Slate, where more than a thousand people would turn out.
 

"We've been talking to our Council people to see if there is any way we could shut the street down and bring people back here," Hatzigeorgiou said.

Eddie Dean is the owner of the concert venue Schimanski in Williamsburg, Brooklyn. It has a capacity of 900 people. He estimates he's lost $500,000 because of the pandemic. 

Based on what is happening in other cities, he's not hopeful about reopening anytime soon.

"In Florida they may be staring to allow some smaller club stuff with rules and restrictions," Dean said. "We are literally at the end of the cue. Large public gatherings, that's our business."

The club owners tell NY1 even once they are allowed to open at reduced capacity, it's going to be extremely hard because people enjoy the crowds and packed feel of a club.  At this point they say they have no choice but to wait for answers.