City Tamale - 1316 Oak Point Ave, The Bronx, NY 10474

City Tamale, a Hunts Point, Bronx-based tamale restaurant where all tamales are handmade using ingredients sourced directly from Mexico and local fresh produce, is busy keeping New York fed.

And that includes all the essential workers who work in Hunts Point near the cozy spot that Israel Veliz opened 4 years ago. Sanitation and food distribution centers are based right next door to him.

“The local people here are so essential to what happens in New York. They are the backbone of the city so we can’t close” said Israel. His revenue has dropped by 50%, he has had to shorten the restaurants hours and most of his staff are staying home. “We were 9 before, now we are 2, and I am in the kitchen making the tamales.” Even though he has had to shorten his hours “we are here” he shares “and all the essential workers appreciate that we are open and say thank you.”