The Barstool Fund - Sel Et Poivre
Up next: Sel et Poivre (New York, NY)
Sel et Poivre is an Upper East Side neighborhood restaurant established in 1989 and is family owned and operated. The name is French for Salt and Pepper, and you'll find just the right amount of spice at Sel et Poivre.
Reader Email
Hello Dave and barstool. Thank you for all you do for business: Here is my story.my name is Pamela Schienle my husband christian and I own Sel et Poivre NYC restaurant. It has been in my family for 32 years. My family has always been in the business ,my dad had a restaurant lower nyc for 30 years. He had to walk away from it after 9/11. In 1989 my mother opened Sel et Poivre . My sister and I were flight attendants for the airlines and my mom said girls you have to give up three years of your life to help me get this restaurant on its feet. So on our days off we would work there.I met my husband through the business. He is from Vienna Austria he has worked in many restaurants.When my mom decided to retire my husband and I took over . It’s been 14 years . My staff has been with us for over 25 years. They are family to us and they are the back bone to this place . We all work hard together. Sel is a neighborhood place ,generations of family's been coming. If we don’t know your name ,we know you by your drink. This was the first year we closed for Thanksgiving and Christmas because of all the rules and regulations we just couldn’t do it and with no indoor dining. It was always a busy day the same family’s have been coming for years. Since the pandemic it has been a nightmare everyday for us . We had major equipment break downs throughout the pandemic to top it off. Wether it is 25% indoor , no indoor or outside dining we are down 90% of sales. The cost of surviving has taken a toll on us . We almost didn’t want to do the outdoor dining because we don’t have the money but we couldn’t give up or be forgotten. Unfortunately we are not getting enough business to make up for our expenses, and it is overwhelming the cost to keep it heated ! I would drive three hours to find propane. Trying to finagle our finances has been a challenge. Bills are coming in we can’t pay , Iam writing hardship letters. We are using our own personal money for expenses. The payroll is the most important. We want to support my employees as much as we can .I pretty much cry everyday. We have a sister restaurant in Westchester Nadine’s and have a devoted staff there too. We are struggling there also. In June it will be Sel et Poivre 32 year anniversary! Iam nervous we may not make it till then. I don’t want to disappoint my family , my staff , this is our livelihood , we love this place .we want to be here for the neighborhood, when they are ready to come back and feel safe ,we want to have there favorite meal ready for them. But right now we are on our last limp. We can really use financial help to keep this in the family and the staff employed and for the neighborhood. Thank you barstool for letting me tell my story and for all you do. Sincerely Pamela and Christian Schienle and all at Sel et Poivre.
