STATEN ISLAND, N.Y. -- Lee’s Tavern, the iconic Dongan Hills bar and dining spot, will temporarily shut its doors beginning on Monday as a result of the coronavirus (COVID-19) outbreak.
“I think it’s coming down the pike anyway, and you’d rather do it on your own terms,” said Diego Palemine — of the Palemine family who owns and operates the establishment.
“It’s better for the whole community,” Palemine said over the phone Sunday night. “You should be staying home.”
“Staten Island institution, Lee’s Tavern, does the difficult but right thing and temporarily closes its door,” Borough President James Oddo wrote on Twitter.
“It should not take iconic SI establishments like Lee’s closing their doors to convince our neighbors that this is serious, but perhaps this selfless action by the Palemine family will help change the behavior of those who still haven’t gotten the message...,” District Attorney Michael E. McMahon wrote on Twitter.
Oddo and McMahon were among the elected officials on the borough who penned a joint statement calling for residents to reevaluate their social distancing behavior in order to curtail the potential spread of the coronavirus.
“As so many have advocated: Stay home as much as possible; keep 6 feet of distance from others in public; and minimize in-person social contact. Please, for everyone’s sake, use common sense. This upcoming week is critically important in terms of attempting to contain this virus. Those who can should just stay home," the letter said.