YEAH. JASON. THERE WAS A LOT OF HAPPINESS AND RELIEF AT THESE BUSINESSES HERE IN WOODLAWN. THEY SAY IT’S BEEN A LONG 43 DAYS, BUT TODAY IT LOOKED LIKE BUSINESS AS USUAL. THE LINE AT PIONEER PIT BEEF IS OUT THE FRONT DOOR AT LUNCHTIME. ONCE AGAIN, I SEE ALL THE PEOPLE THERE WAS MISSING FOR A FEW WEEKS. YEAH, THEY’RE BACK TO WORK. TIGER SAUCE AND ONIONS. THE FEDERAL GOVERNMENT IS BACK OPEN, AND WORKERS AT THE SOCIAL SECURITY ADMINISTRATION IN WOODLAWN ARE BACK IN THE OFFICE AND HUNGRY FOR LUNCH. HAPPY FOR EVERYBODY. ALL THE GUYS ARE HAPPY TO BE BACK TO WORK. YEAH. SO YEAH. SO WE’RE GOOD WITH THAT. PIONEER STRUGGLED OVER THE LAST 43 DAYS WITH FEW CUSTOMERS DURING THE SHUTDOWN. NEARBY LEGENDS GRILL HAD THE SAME PROBLEM. BUT THURSDAY THEIR LUNCH RUSH WAS BACK TO NORMAL TOO. OH, TODAY I SEE A LOT OF HAPPY FOLKS. A LOT OF FOLKS FROM SOCIAL SECURITY OFFICE. THEY SAY WE’RE HAPPY. BACK IN OFFICE. AND AS YOU CAN SEE, BUSINESS IS GETTING BACK. SO THANK GOD. NADIM SAYS HIS BUSINESS WAS DOWN 50% DURING THE SHUTDOWN. HE DOESN’T KNOW THAT HE’LL EVER RECOUP THAT MONEY. I DON’T THINK SO BECAUSE LOST. LOST. BUT AT LEAST, YOU KNOW WE’RE GETTING BACK ON OUR FEET. YOU KNOW, AS YOU CAN SEE, IT’S IMPROVING. SO THAT’S THAT’S A GOOD THING. HE’S HOPEFUL BUSINESS WILL CONTINUE TO DO WELL. AND THE GOVERNMENT DOESN’T SHUT DOWN AGAIN WHEN THIS FUNDING RUNS OUT IN JANUARY. OH, I HOPE NOT. I DON’T WANT TO THINK ABOUT THAT LONG. I THINK IT SHOULD BE FINE. I THINK THEY THEY WILL WORK OUT BEFORE THE SHUTDOWN. THERE’S STILL NO WORD ON WHEN THOSE FEDERAL WORKERS WILL GET THEIR BACK PAY. REPORTING LI
‘I hope it stays like this’: Woodlawn business owners happy to see federal worker lunch rush return
Updated: 5:17 PM EST Nov 13, 2025
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Woodlawn business owners are relieved to see federal workers return to work after the government shutdown ended Wednesday night. It was a long 43 days for some businesses, which rely on the lunch rush from federal workers, but Thursday seemed to be back to business as usual. “Today, I see a lot of happy folks, a lot of folks from the social security office that are happy to be back in the office,” said Chaudhery Nadeem, owner of Legends Halal Grill.The response is a stark contrast from last week, when WBAL-TV 11 News visited a nearly empty restaurant during lunch hours.The lunch rush was back on Thursday, though. “Very happy, very happy. I hope it stays like this,” Nadeem said. “The main thing for me and for the folks was let it open. We can go ahead and get paid, get back to normal. I think that’s a big relief.”Down the street, the line stretches out the front door at Pioneer Pit Beef during lunch, just as it did before the shutdown.The restaurant, like Legends Halal Grill, was hit hard by the shutdown. Jesus Cruz, a manager, said they’re only open for lunch and most of their business comes from federal workers at the Social Security Administration.”Today, definitely, I see all the people who were missing for a few weeks. They’re back to work,” Cruz said.While there is a level of uncertainty surrounding whether they’ll be able to recoup the losses from the last 43 days, for now, they’re just glad that things are back to normal.”We’re happy for everybody. All the guys are happy to go back to work. We’re good with that,” Cruz said.Still, the funding bill only goes through Jan. 30. Everyone WBAL TV 11 News spoke with is hopeful that there won’t be another shutdown in two months.
Woodlawn business owners are relieved to see federal workers return to work after the government shutdown ended Wednesday night.
It was a long 43 days for some businesses, which rely on the lunch rush from federal workers, but Thursday seemed to be back to business as usual.
“Today, I see a lot of happy folks, a lot of folks from the social security office that are happy to be back in the office,” said Chaudhery Nadeem, owner of Legends Halal Grill.
The response is a stark contrast from last week, when WBAL-TV 11 News visited a nearly empty restaurant during lunch hours.
The lunch rush was back on Thursday, though.
“Very happy, very happy. I hope it stays like this,” Nadeem said. “The main thing for me and for the folks was let it open. We can go ahead and get paid, get back to normal. I think that’s a big relief.”
Down the street, the line stretches out the front door at Pioneer Pit Beef during lunch, just as it did before the shutdown.
The restaurant, like Legends Halal Grill, was hit hard by the shutdown. Jesus Cruz, a manager, said they’re only open for lunch and most of their business comes from federal workers at the Social Security Administration.
“Today, definitely, I see all the people who were missing for a few weeks. They’re back to work,” Cruz said.
While there is a level of uncertainty surrounding whether they’ll be able to recoup the losses from the last 43 days, for now, they’re just glad that things are back to normal.
“We’re happy for everybody. All the guys are happy to go back to work. We’re good with that,” Cruz said.
Still, the funding bill only goes through Jan. 30. Everyone WBAL TV 11 News spoke with is hopeful that there won’t be another shutdown in two months.
