BY DEAN MOSES
Queens carpenter Joel Voisard
is fi ghting the fi nancial
ruin of the pandemic, one outside
dining space at a time.
The COVID-19 pandemic had
been detrimental to businesses
throughout New York City. In
addition to the heart-wrenching
loss of family and friends dying
from the virus, communities
have also suffered the demise of
beloved restaurants and local
social hubs after many owners
were unable to cope with the
fi nancial burden wrought by
the state’s lockdown and indoor
dining restrictions.
Yet, despite the consistent
stream to devastating news
from the city’s business community,
there are also some
happier tales — including communities
rallying around their
small businesses, and a Bay
Ridge artist who decorated local
curbside seating encampments.
In one case, Queens carpenter
Joel Voisard has been
helping keep restaurants alive
throughout the ravages of the
novel coronavirus by offering
his services to New York eateries
COURIER L 12 IFE, APRIL 16-22, 2021
who require outside seating
spaces in order to keep their
doors open.
Voisard works primarily
by himself from a workshop
in Long Island City, Queens,
where an art gallery consisting
of works he’s created over
the years adorns the walls and
fl oors of his workshop. Even his
offi ce table, chairs, and decorations
are lovingly constructed
by the man himself.
“A lot of it is just a respite
from my work so I can sit and
have lunch,” Voisard said as he
made his way to his workshop
at the rear of the building.
Inside his workshop proper,
one sees the tools of the trade
such as vices, power saws, and
more, but like he said no workforce
— just one man behind
the curtain.
“I prefer to work by myself,”
Voisard said, adding “It’s more
diffi cult but I just like being by
myself — I would rather not
look over somebody. I would
rather just do it myself.”
Despite being one man,
Voisard has set up shop since
2003 and during that time his
work has spoken for itself and
word of his name and dedication
has traveled from Harlem
to Long Island, leaving almost
no neighborhood untouched by
his hands. Being a trusted contractor
for almost two decades,
when the pandemic began impacting
businesses Voisard was
the go-to wood worker to whom
many turned in hopes of saving
their storefronts. However, with
rent due and little to no customers,
money was in short supply.
Even so, the carpenter worked
with them in this regard, eager
to help prevent more doors
from closing.
“When it fi rst began, I defi -
nitely wanted to help them,
I would give them fair numbers
to help them and get it up,
and if they didn’t have enough
Joel Voisard poses with his equipment. Photo by Dean Moses
money at the time, they would
come back with whatever they
had. I also built the inside of the
restaurants too, so I felt some
responsibility, so I wanted the
outside to look like the inside,”
Voisard said.
In addition to working with
wood, Voisard likewise assembles
steel and glass for the interiors.
So, with the vaccine rollout
in full effect he sees himself
returning to work inside while
continuing to aid with some
outdoor spaces. It is these outdoor
spaces though that have
literally helped keep businesses
afl oat during a tidal wave of economic
hardship. Juliet and Justine
Masters, the owners of The
Edge in Harlem, say that the
space they helped design alongside
Voisard went a long way in
making sure they survived the
pandemic.
“Joel was recommended to
us by another restaurant owner
in Harlem. It was a very easy
conversation with him, and
we felt like we could work with
him. He was reasonably priced,
and he showed up in his beatup
old red truck with the wood
sticking out the back, so there
was something telling about
that,” Juliet said.
A handy man
Carpenter helps save struggling restaurants
WE’RE ALL
TIRED OF
COVID-19
But COVID-19 isn’t over yet.
Neither is our fight.
GET TESTED
IMMEDIATELY IF YOU
FEEL COLD OR FLU
SYMPTOMS
STAY
SO, WHAT’S NEXT?
MASKED AND
DISTANCED
GET TESTED
OFTEN, EVEN WITH NO
SYMPTOMS
AND WHEN IT’S
YOUR TURN, GET
VACCINATED
Preventing the spread of COVID-19 starts with knowing if we have it. TESTING IS AVAILABLE AT NO COST TO YOU.
Visit testandtrace.nyc or call 212-COVID19
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