“That’s empowering.”During the pandemic, the restaurant industry has engaged in great soul-searching as it struggles to keep afloat. Interest in cooperative business models tends to swell in the wake of social revolutions and financial crises. There’s been a similar response to the pandemic, as it exacerbates income inequality and lays bare workplace disparities. According to Freedman, the pandemic, along with movements like #metoo and Black Lives Matter, has “undermined the post-Top Chef model” in restaurants. After exhausting back-and-forth discussions, Red Emma’s worker-owners decided not to rent out their kitchen, even if that meant working harder to reduce their financial losses.