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Michael Tan, owner of Hong Kong-style treat shop Eggloo, speaks out on the challenges of reopening and anti-Asian hate crimes

Finding a way back to business for a waffles and ice cream shop in New York City

Joanna Fantozzi, Senior Editor

April 26, 2021

When the pandemic shut down New York City’s restaurants along with the rest of the country, many operators pivoted to off-premise sales and third-party delivery to boost dwindling revenues. But that pivot is a tough sell if you’re an ice cream shop known for Instagram-worthy bubble waffle-ice cream creations.

Eggloo is a Hong Kong-style waffles and ice cream shop in New York City’s Chinatown that had to get creative with retail sales of pancakes mixes and bubble waffle kits in Asian-American flavors, like matcha and black sesame, during the pandemic to keep their head above water.

Eggloo is also a part of DoorDash’s new Main Street Accelerator program, which helps boost businesses owned by women and Black or indigenous people of color with financial assistance and mentorship opportunities. The 100 winners of the program get placed into community cohorts to learn from and get advice from one another.

“For our business, something we’re planning is to have a more community-oriented space for Asian-American products,” Eggloo co-owner Michael Tan said. “That’s one aspect we’ll be putting the money toward.”

Tan also spoke of his challenges during the pandemic, including his perspective on the rise of anti-Asian-American hatred in the country in the video below.

About the Author

Joanna Fantozzi

Joanna Fantozzi

Senior Editor

Joanna Fantozzi is a Senior Editor for Nation’s Restaurant News and Restaurant Hospitality. She has more than seven years of experience writing about the restaurant and hospitality industry. Her editorial coverage ranges from profiles of independent restaurants around the country to breaking news and insights into some of the biggest brands in food and beverage, including Starbucks, Domino’s, and Papa John’s.

Joanna holds a bachelor’s degree in English literature and creative writing from The College of New Jersey and a master’s degree in arts and culture journalism from the Craig Newmark Graduate School of Journalism at CUNY. Prior to joining Informa’s Restaurants and Food Group in 2018, she was a freelance food, culture, and lifestyle writer, and has previously held editorial positions at Insider (formerly known as Business Insider) and The Daily Meal. Joanna’s work can also be found in The New York Times, Forbes, Vice, The New York Daily News, and Parents Magazine.

Her areas of expertise include restaurant industry news, restaurant operator solutions and innovations, and political/cultural issues.

Joanna Fantozzi has been a moderator and event facilitator at both Informa’s MUFSO and Restaurants Rise industry events.

Joanna Fantozzi’s experience:

Senior Editor, Informa Restaurant & Food Group (August 2021-present)

Associate Editor, Informa Restaurant & Food Group (July 2019-August 2021)

Assistant Editor, Informa Restaurant & Food Group (Oct. 2018-July 2019)

Freelance Food & Lifestyle Reporter (Feb. 2018-Oct. 2018)

Food & Lifestyle Reporter, Insider (June 2017-Feb. 2018)

News Editor, The Daily Meal (Jan. 2014- June 2017)

Staff Reporter, Straus News (Jan. 2013-Dec. 2013)

See more from Joanna Fantozzi

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