John Pepper used a PPP loan to pay employees and reopen four of his eight Boloco restaurants when Massachusetts lifted its shutdown order in early May. But with the money spent and business at the restaurants down as much as 70%, Pepper had to again close two locations. With the PPP money we received, we were able to pay 48 employees but that has run out now, so we are left with very few alternatives for funding, Cea says. Jason Brauners restaurant, Bourbon Bistro, exhausted its PPP loan, is operating at 50% of capacity and not making enough to cover its expenses. Brauner is hoping to get a grant from the city and hed welcome another PPP loan.