A tailor in New York City opened his shop’s doors for business despite the city ordering nonessential businesses to stay shuttered during the coronavirus pandemic.
Eliot Rabin, 78, owns high-end fashion men’s apparel store Peter Eliot and told the New York Post Sunday, “I’m opening my doors come hell or high water.”
He continued, “If I do get in trouble, it will be for the right reasons. What are they going to do? Yell and scream at me? Fine me $500? It would be worth it, for me to be able to open my mouth and say this is not equitable. If they try to arrest me, I’ll say, ‘Am I in a police state now?’ They’re not going to arrest me.”
Rabin said that he’s laid off 12 employees from his 21-member staff after the city’s measures to mitigate the spread of the coronavirus.
“We’ve applied for every loan, every break … to no avail. We got bubkes,” he said.
Rabin added that he reopened on Wednesday and hopes to provide “emotional essential support” to those stuck in the city, as well as “internal vaccinations: Chivas Regal, Kentucky bourbon — have a nip and you’ll feel better.”
“I’m fighting for the soul of my company and my people. I’m doing what I think is right to protect my business and employees from this disaster,” Rabin said, adding that none of his employees are put in danger while working. “I spray my Lysol like I spray my Chanel cologne for men.”
