October 29 – LETTER: IRC Urges Presidential Candidates to Commit to Passing the RESTAURANTS Act When the Election is Over.
Dear President Donald J. Trump and Hon. Joseph R. Biden,
Every four years, Republican and Democratic candidates for elected office visit our dining rooms, coffee shops, ice cream parlors, and bars to talk with voters. They sit in front of television cameras, bright lights, and microphones to talk about how they love local restaurants and how, as president, they will do everything they can to help small businesses and the people they employ.
This campaign season is different. Visits to independent restaurants are no longer featured in political ads or the nightly news at a time when our industry is in crisis. Restaurants lost over $220 billion dollars in revenue in the second quarter of this year, or 10% of the total GDP loss. Many of us are still closed for business, leaving over 2.5 million people unemployed and putting millions more at risk of permanent unemployment. In fact, more than one in five jobs lost since February have come from restaurants and bars, more losses than any other industry during the pandemic.
The Paycheck Protection Program helped offset costs for some of us and outdoor dining has allowed many restaurants to keep their doors open these past few months with some of our employees working. Most of us, however, are just accumulating more debt as dramatically reduced revenues fail to cover our unchanging overhead costs for things like rent, supplies, and permits. Some of our costs are increasing, including that of PPE and takeout containers.
By election day, cool temperatures will make outdoor dining impossible for many and – without a widely available vaccine – we cannot sustain our businesses with socially distanced indoor dining alone. We will be forced to close our doors again, sending hundreds of thousands of workers to unemployment, sinking our GDP, and leaving farmers, butchers, fishers and other local industries that supply restaurants no choice but to close shop forever.
Our businesses are the lifeblood of local economies, serving as the first job for over a million single mothers and a disproportionately high number of young American workers. We employ more non-white managers than any other industry, giving immigrants a shot at the American dream. Collectively our businesses are the second largest private sector employer in America– roughly 3.1 million jobs are on the line in Florida, Michigan, North Carolina, Pennsylvania, and Wisconsin alone. Without immediate action from Congress and the White House, all of that is at risk.
Voters in our communities will soon decide who will serve as President of the United States for the next four years and they are carefully watching what you are proposing to help our national and local economies recover from COVID-19. Former Vice President Biden, you have said “building back better means helping small businesses and entrepreneurs come out the other side of this crisis strong.” And President Trump, you told a voter during a ABC townhall in September that you “would like to see additional stimulus for people [who are struggling when] it wasn't their fault.”
This situation is not our fault. We have done everything possible to keep our doors open and our teams fully employed– but it’s not enough. Despite the crisis, neither of your campaigns has put forward a plan specifically designed to help independent restaurants nor endorsed the only bipartisan plan in Congress that does just that. If you want the support of small business owners and their employees, you need to earn it.
Our restaurants cannot wait until after the election– or after inauguration day– to see what happens. The over 16 million people employed by independent restaurants will not forget the politicians who kept kicking the can down the road– this is a crisis and we are out of options. With the seasons changing, we are deciding now whether we can afford to keep 11 million people employed and continue to fuel local economies.
Restaurants need you to lead by holding members accountable to passing a bipartisan relief program like the RESTAURANTS Act that has already passed in the House as part of the HEROES Act and has the bipartisan support of over 40 U.S. Senators. That’s because it’s commonsense policy that would decrease unemployment by up to 2.4% and contribute at least $270 billion back to the economy.
America’s 500,000 independent restaurants and bars cannot serve as the backdrop of your campaign’s political advertisements this year, but they do form an economic backbone of a nation you both have served.
Give this crisis the weight it merits in the final days of the campaign and commit to passing the RESTAURANTS Act when the election is over.
Sincerely,
Restaurant owners, line cooks, baristas, maintenance staff and other employees from 189 restaurants in Florida, Michigan, North Carolina, Pennsylvania, and Wisconsin including:
FLORIDA
Barry Gutin
Cuba Libre Restaurant & Rum Bar, Fort Lauderdale & Orlando
Ignacio Garcia-Menocal
Glass & Vine, Miami
Mi’talia Kitchen & Bar, Miami
Red Rooster Overtown, Miami
Root & Bone, Miami
Public Square, Miami
Los Chinos, Miami
Stiltsville Fish Bar, Miami Beach
Stubborn Seed, Miami Beach
Michelle Bernstein
Michelle Bernstein Catering, Miami
Sunil Bhatt
Michael’s Genuine, Miami
Harry’s Pizzeria, Miami
Ella, Miami
Amara at Paraiso, Miami
MICHIGAN
Andrea Forbing
Zingerman's Mail Order, Ann Arbor
Ari Weinzweig
Zingerman’s Bakehouse, Ann Arbor
Zingerman’s Candy Manufactory, Ann Arbor
Zingerman’s Roadhouse, Ann Arbor
Zingerman’s Delicatessen, Ann Arbor
Zingerman’s Coffee Company, Ann Arbor
Cornman Farms, Dexter
Zingerman's, Ann Arbor
Audrey Wolfe
Zingerman's, Ann Arbor
Ayah Tillawi
Zingerman’s Roadhouse , Ann Arbor
Barb Kraft
Zingerman's, Ann Arbor
Belinda Armstronh
Zingerman’s, Ann Arbor
Bob Bennett
Zingerman's Roadhouse, Ann Arbor
Christine Krause
Zingermans Deli, Ann Arbor
Christopher Freitas
Zingermans Roadhouse, Ann Arbor
Daan Berks
Zingerman's Delicatessen, Ann Arbor
Ethan Seelig
Zingerman's Next Door, Ann Arbor
Eve Zikmund-Fisher
Zingerman's Bakehouse, Ann Arbor
Grace Singleton
Zingerman's Delicatessen, Ann Arbor
Hazim Tugun
Zingerman's Bakehouse, Ann Arbor
Jacob Danek
Zingerman's Delicatessen, Ann Arbor
Jaison Restrick
Zingerman's Bakehouse, Ann Arbor
Jamie Gray
Zingerman's, Ann Arbor
Jeff Lobdel
Pete’s Grill & Tavern, Byron Center
Beltline Bar & Café, Grand Rapids
Sundance Grill & Bar, Grand Rapids
Grand Coney Diner, Grand Rapids
Rockwell & Republic, Grand Rapids
Bagel Beanery, Grand Rapids & Kalamazoo
The Omelette Shoppe, Grand Rapids & Traverse City
Red Geranium, Grand Rapids & Wyoming
Boone’s Prime Time Pub, Suttons Bay
Apache Trout Grill, , Traverse City
Flap Jack Shack, Traverse City & Lansing
Noble Restaurant, Wyoming
Jenny Tubbs
Zingerman's, Ann Arbor
Jill Robinson
Zingerman's Bakehouse, Ann Arbor
Judith Cassel
Zingerman's Coffee Company, Ann Arbor
Katrina Betz
Zingerman's Bakehouse, Ann Arbor
Zingerman's Cake Studio, Ann Arbor
Kevin Bowker
Zingerman's Delicatessen , Ann Arbor
Kimberly Green
Zingerman's Roadhouse, Ann Arbor
Leslie Mortimer
Cornman Farms, Dexter
Lisa Schultz
Zingerman's Roadhouse, Ann Arbor
Martha Throckmorton
Zingerman's Mail Order, Ann Arbor
Megan Wiltse
Zingerman's Mail Order, Ann Arbor
Melaina Bukowski
Zingerman's, Ann Arbor
Meredith Davis
Zingerman‚ Roadhouse, Ann Arbor
Michelle Abbey
Zingerman's Coffee Company, Ann Arbor
Pattie Lambka
Zingerman's, Ann Arbor
Paul Swaney
Zingerman's, Ann Arbor
Samantha Brinkman
Zingerman's, Ann Arbor
Sharon Kramer
Zingerman's Roadhouse, Ann Arbor
Tara Stow
Zingerman's Candy Manufactory, Ann Arbor
Timo Anderson
Zingerman's, Ann Arbor
Victoria Huyck
Zingerman's, Ann Arbor
William Schork
Zingerman's, Ann Arbor
Yonathan Guthmann
Zingerman's , Ann Arbor
NORTH CAROLINA
Andrea Reusing
Lantern, Chapel Hill
April Moon Harper
Sunny Point Cafe, Asheville
Brendan Reusing
All Souls Pizza, Asheville
Brian Dennehy
City Bakery, Fletcher & Asheville
Carole Bowers
Carmel's Kitchen & Bar, Asheville
Carolyn Roy
Biscuit Head, Asheville
Dan Rattigan
French Broad Chocolate Lounge, Asheville
Danielle Porco
Acme Food & Beverage Co., Carrboro
Plum Southern Kitchen & Bar, Durham
Heyday Brewing, Raleigh
Carrboro United, Carrboro
Elizabeth Button
La Bodega by Curate, Asheville
Curate, Asheville
Emily Thome
67 Biltmore downtown eatery & catering, Asheville
Francesca Mason
Acme Food & Beverage Co., Carrboro
Carrboro United , Carrboro
Plum & Company, Durham
Gray Brooks
Pizzeria Toro, Durham
Littler, Durham
Jack Tar, Durham
Jael Rattigan
French abroad Chocolate Lounge , Asheville
Jay Weatherly
High Five Coffee, Asheville
Jeff Miller
Luella's Bar-B-Que, Asheville
Joe Scully
Corner Kitchen, Asheville
Chestnut, Asheville
Joel Mowrey
Smoking J's Fiery Foods, Candler
John Fleer
Rhubarb, The Rhu, Benne on Eagle, Asheville
Karen Donatelli
Karen Donatelli Bakery, Asheville
Kate Bannasch
Copper Crown, Asheville
Tastee Diner, Asheville
Katie Button
La Bodega by Curate, Asheville
Cúrate, Asheville
Kevin Callaghan
Acme Food & Beverage Co., Carrboro
Kirsten Fuchs
Baked Pie Company, Woodfin
Baked Pie Company, Arden
Leonardo Williams
Zweli’s Kitchen and Catering, Durham
Lillianna Woody
Isis Restaurant & Music Hall, Asheville
Lucia Gray
Little Jumbo, Asheville
Matthew Kelly
Mateo Tapas, Durham
Saint James, Durham
Mothers & Sons, Durham
Lucky's, Durham
Meherwan Irani
Chai Pani, Asheville
Melissa Lausch
Carmel's Kitchen & Bar, Asheville
Michael Rangel
Asheville Pizza & Brewing Co, Asheville
Michelle Alexander
Sunny Point Cafe, Asheville
Peter Montague
Zambra, Asheville
Peter Pollay
Posana, Asheville
Bargello, Asheville
District 42, Asheville
Philip Bollhoefer
The Montford Rooftop Bar, Asheville
Randy Talley
Green Sage Cafe, Asheville
Reza Setayesh
Bimberibon, Asheville
Richard Cundiff
Rocky’s Hot Chicken Shack, Asheville
Rob Duckworth
Duckworth's, Charlotte
Link & Pin, Charlotte
The Cellar , Charlotte
Sandi Kronick
Happy Dirt, Durham
Sherrye Coggiola
The Cantina @ Biltmore, Asheville
Trenton Shank
Plum, Durham
Tricia Mesigian
Orange County Social Club, Carrboro
Wesley Eason
Sunburst Trout Farms, Waynesville
William Klingel
Oyster House Brewing Company, West Asheville
Zoë Dehmer
Acme Food & Beverage Co., Carrboro
PENNSYLVANIA
Barry Gutin (continued)
Cuba Libre Restaurant & Rum Bar, Philadelphia
Ellen Yin
Fork, Philadelphia
High Street Philly, Philadelphia
a.kitchen+bar, Philadelphia
Kayla Bolyai
Alma de Cuba, Philadelphia
Barclay Prime, Philadelphia
Buddakan, Philadelphia
Butcher and Singer, Philadelphia
The Continental Restaurant and Martini Bar, Philadelphia
The Continental, Philadelphia
The Dandelion, Philadelphia
El Rey, Philadelphia
El Vez, Philadelphia
Fette Sau, Philadelphia
Frankford Hall, Philadelphia
Jones, Philadelphia
Morimoto, Philadelphia
Parc, Philadelphia
Pod, Philadelphia
Serpico, Philadelphia
Pizzeria Stella, Philadelphia
Talula’s Daily, Philadelphia
Talula’s Garden, Philadelphia
The Love, Philadelphia
WISCONSIN
Adrienne Pierluissi
Sugar Maple , Milwaukee
AJ Dixon
Lazy Susan MKE, Milwaukee
Erick Disbrow
Palomino bar, Milwaukee
Amy Kerstein
Blue's Egg, Milwaukee
Story Hill BKC, Milwaukee
Maxie's, Milwaukee
Andrew Gehl
Third Space Brewing, Milwaukee
Andrew Menchal
Honeypie Café, Milwaukee
Palomino Bar, Milwaukee
SmallPie, Milwaukee
Anthony F. Balistreri
SALA Modern Sicilian, Milwaukee
Anthony J. Balistreri
SALA Modern Sicilian, Milwaukee
Beth Graf
My Family Roots catering , Milwaukee
Bryan Phillips
Foxfire Food Truck, Milwaukee
Cameryne Roberts
LuLu Cafe and Bar , Milwaukee
Chris Tinker
Three lions pub, Milwaukee
Red Lion Pub, Milwaukee
Daniel Jacobs
Dandan Restaurant, Milwaukee
Dan Nowak
Tall Guy and a Grill Catering, Milwaukee
Derek Petersen
Honeypie cafe, Milwaukee
Don Kreuser
SALA Modern Sicilian, Milwaukee
Elisabeth Duggan
Cloud Red, Shorewood
Emily Dell
The Cooperage and Boone & Crockett, Milwaukee
George Mireles
Cafe Corazon, Milwaukee
Gregory Leon
Amilinda , Milwaukee
James McCann
The Vanguard, Milwaukee
Jon East
Twisted Path Distillery, Milwaukee
Jason Kerstein
Blue's Egg, Milwaukee
Story Hill BKC, Milwaukee
Maxie's, Milwaukee
John Dye
Bryant's Cocktail Lounge, Milwaukee
At Random, Milwaukee
The Jazz Estate, Milwaukee
John J. Clark
Public Table, West Allis
Jordan Aberman
3 Sheeps Brewing Company, Sheboygan
Justin Carlisle
Ardent, Milwaukee
Red Light Ramen, Milwaukee
The Laughing Taco, Milwaukee
Karen Bell
Bavette La Boucherie, Milwaukee
Katy Lochmann
Voyager Wine & Cocktail, Milwaukee
Kristyn Eitel
BelAir Cantina, Milwaukee
BelAir Cantina, Oak Creek
BelAir Cantina, Wauwatosa
BelAir Cantina, Brookfield
BelAir Cantina, Madison
Hi Hat Lounge, Milwaukee
Hi Hat Garage, Milwaukee
Fuel Café, Milwaukee
Balzac Wine Bar, Milwaukee
Comet Café, Milwaukee
Kurt Jensen
8th Street Ale Haus , Sheboygan
Maggie Reid
Foxfire Food Truck, Milwaukee
Margaret Williams-Smith
VISIT Milwaukee, Milwaukee
Mary Balistreri Kreuser
SALA Modern Sicilian, Milwaukee
Meagan Lewinski
Honeypie Café, Milwaukee
Palomino, Milwaukee
Smallpie, Milwaukee
Melissa Buchholz
Odd Duck, Milwaukee
Micah Buck
Voyager Wine & Cocktail, Milwaukee
Randolph Oskey
8th Street Ale Haus , Sheboygan
Rebecca Loewen
Cloud Red, Shorewood
Ross Bachhuber
Odd Duck, Milwaukee
Samantha Kassel
Fred's Frozen Custard & Grill, Milwaukee
Scott Lucey
Wonderstate Coffee, Milwaukee
Suzzette Metcalfe
The Pasta Tree Restaurant & Wine Bar, Milwaukee
Teresa Balistreri Warsh
SALA Modern Sicilian, Milwaukee
Tony Lewanovich
Champps-Brookfield, Brookfield
Tim Thompson
The Flying Hound Alehouse, Fitchburg
Valeri Lucks
Honeypie Café, Milwaukee
Honeypie Bakeshop, Milwaukee
Palomino, Milwaukee
SmallPie, Milwaukee
Wendy Mireles
Cafe Corazon, Milwaukee