GREECE, N.Y. — Every time restaurant owners like Van Zissis are just seeing the light at the end of the tunnel, it seems along comes something else to worry about.

What You Need To Know

  • Greece business owner reacts to concealed carry gun restrictions
  • Legislation would require locations to post a sign letting patrons know if they welcome people with gun permits
  • Mel's Diner owner is trying to learn more about the legislation

“Here's where I am — more payroll, less people, less hours, more expenses. Bottom line, less money in my pocket. I'm working more for less. That's what I'm doing," said the owner of Mel's Diner, Van Zissis.

He’s trying to learn more about the details of legislation that would severely limit where concealed carry guns would be allowed in the state. It takes aim at businesses.

“We're going to do what they tell us to do, no matter what. We can't win,” said the owner of the Greece diner. “So either we can allow people to come in with their guns. We can't allow people to come in with their guns. Just tell us what we need to do. Don't leave it up to us.”

The move comes following the Supreme Court’s ruling to overturn the state’s century’s old firearm law.

It would require places of businesses to post a sign saying people with permits are welcome to have concealed guns in their establishment – otherwise patrons would assume gun carriers would not be welcome.

“If I put up a sign that says, ‘you're free to bring your gun inside,’ some people might get offended and say, ‘I'm not going there.’ And in the end, who's gonna lose? I'm gonna lose," says Zissis, who believes small businesses should not be caught up in the politics of solving the gun problem.

He states, “It's going to happen where they're going to make a law today, and tomorrow is gonna change. Just like the COVID rules. You can wear a mask, can't wear a mask.”

Asked if he will hang a sign, “I can't answer that. I don't know. I don't have enough information. I have to ask my staff first. How do they feel? Are they comfortable with it? So there's a lot of factors that we have to consider before we can make that assessment.”

Zissis says after barely making it through the pandemic, staffing shortages, and now coping with intense inflation – this latest news from Albany is more than frustrating.

“What's next? When's it going to end,” said Zissis. “We just come to work to feed our families, to take care of our kids. And that's it. These politicians in Albany, they don't have to worry about making payroll, paying utilities, paying rent. They're not small business owners, most of them. They're politicians, it's different.”