Small, local restaurants are the setting of some of our most memorable moments: First dates, engagements, birthday parties, family reunions or just brunch with an old friend. Small, independent restaurants offer the warm hospitality and personal touch to make these meals special.
But these restaurants mean so much more than just good food and hospitality. Independent restaurants directly employ 11 million workers and indirectly employ 5 million more up and down the supply chain. And they contribute $760 billion to the economy annually.
Unfortunately, these beloved restaurants have taken a massive hit in the past few months. According to the Independent Restaurant Coalition (IRC), 1-in-4 jobs lost during the pandemic came from the food and beverage industry. That’s 5.9 million jobs. Now, 85 percent of independent restaurants are likely to close by the end of the year if no direct aid is provided to the industry.
Sam Tell has been working with small, independent restaurants from our very conception. This is our world – our family. That’s why we are proud to support The Independent Restaurant Coalition's push to pass the Restaurants Act. This Act would establish a $120B Restaurant Revitalization Fund, which will help independent restaurants combat the challenges caused by COVID-19.
The Independent Restaurant Coalition urges anyone who has ever enjoyed time at an independent restaurant or bar—which is to say, everyone—to contact their local congressperson and demand passage of the Restaurants Act.
All you need to do is fill out a short form on the IRC’s Take Action page, which automatically sends a letter drafted by the IRC to your local representatives.
“This is about more than preserving our most cherished places of celebration and gathering—it’s about bringing a massive economy of over 16 million workers and billions of dollars in spending back to life,” said the Independent Restaurant Coalition. “The revitalization fund is a smart investment that would contribute more than two dollars to the economy for every one dollar spent and ensure millions of Americans have a shot at keeping their job. If congress steps up and passes the Restaurants Act today, our independent restaurants will deliver for the economy tomorrow.”