PLACE TO BE RIGHT NOW. >> YOU'VE PROBABLY SEEN A LEE'S DELI LOCATION IN SAN FRANCISCO FOR 40 YEARS. THE FAMILY RUN OPERATION HAD MULTIPLE STORES IN THE CITY BY THE BAY AS OF RECENTLY, THOUGH, THEY ARE ALL CLOSED PERMANENTLY. >> COVID HAS BEEN A DISEASE FOR US, LET'S PUT IT THAT WAY. SO SO IT'S BEEN DIFFICULT AND WE TRIED OPENING LIKE SIX, 6 OR 8 STORES IN THE BEGINNING. IN 2021, IT WAS UGLY. THERE WAS JUST NOBODY AROUND. YOU CAN'T WE CAN'T DO BUSINESS. >> AND WHILE SOME PEOPLE HAVE COME BACK TO WORK, LEE KWAN, WHO STARTED AND RAN LEE'S DELI, SAYS THOSE CUSTOMERS ARE MAINLY THERE JUST THREE DAYS A WEEK FOR A BREAKFAST AND LUNCH SHOP IN OR NEAR SAN FRANCISCO'S FINANCIAL DISTRICT. HE SAYS THAT DOESN'T PAY THE BILLS. LEE POINTS TO INFLATION, THE MULTIPLE MINIMUM WAGE HIKES IN RECENT YEARS IN SAN FRANCISCO AND A LACK OF SUPPORT FROM CITY AND STATE LEADERS AFTER COVID. >> THEY DO ANYTHING TO REALLY HELP US KNOW WHAT THINGS THEY DID WERE INSUFFICIENT TO DEAL WITH THE PROBLEM. WE NEEDED PEOPLE TO COME BACK IN, AND WE NEEDED THE HOMELESS PEOPLE OUT. WHEN PANDEMIC HIT, WE HAD 12 STORES. LET'S SAY EACH ONE OF THOSE STORES WAS STOCKED FOR FOOD THAT WOULD LAST A COUPLE OF WEEKS, UP TO A MONTH. SO WHEN WE COULD NOT OPEN ALL THAT FOOD, ENDED UP GOING INTO GARBAGE CAN. >> WEDNESDAY NIGHT WE SPOKE WITH SAN FRANCISCO MAYOR LONDON BREED ABOUT THE CURRENT STRUGGLE IN THE FINANCIAL DISTRICT. >> REVITALIZATION TAKES TIME. WE'VE BEEN THROUGH A GLOBAL PANDEMIC. SHOPPING PATTERNS HAVE CHANGED, AND SO WE NEED TO ADJUST TO THAT. AND WE NEED TO REDUCE LIKE ALL THE FEES AND TAXES AND BARRIERS THAT MAKE IT DIFFICULT FOR PEOPLE TO THRIVE IN BUSINESS IN SAN FRANCISCO. AND THAT'S EXACTLY WHAT I'M DOING. LEE WHO IS NOW NEARLY 80, SAYS HE'S LEANED ON FAITH AND FAMILY IN THE LAST FEW MONTHS. >> WE EVEN HAD A GOOD LAUGH WHEN I LEARNED THAT HE STILL HAS DIM SUM IN HIS FREEZER. LEFTOVERS AFTER HIS FINAL TWO STORES CLOSED, AND HE'S HOLDING HIS HEAD UP HIGH FOR LASTING 40 YEARS AND REMEMBERING THE GOOD TIMES WITH FAMILY. >> IF I HAD TO DO IT AGAIN, I'LL GO TO THE RICHMOND DISTRICT. I'LL GO SUNSET, I'LL GO OUT ONE OF THE NEIGHBORHOODS. >> YEAH, YEAH. >> YOU KNOW, AND HELPING OUT THERE NOT NOT IN DOWNTOWN. JR
