The Independent Restaurant Coalition is a US trade group formed during the

COVID-19 pandemic The COVID-19 pandemic, also known as the coronavirus pandemic, is an ongoing global pandemic of coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) caused by severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2). The novel virus was first identi ...

by independent restaurateurs and chefs. During the pandemic the group lobbied local, state and federal governments for relief after their businesses were closed by government mandates to slow the spread of the virus. Their aim was to mitigate the impact of the closings on independent restaurants. Multiple prominent chefs and restaurateurs formed the leadership team.

Background

According to the IRC, independent restaurants represented 4% of the US

GDP Gross domestic product (GDP) is a monetary measure of the market value of all the final goods and services produced and sold (not resold) in a specific time period by countries. Due to its complex and subjective nature this measure is ofte ...

and employed 11 million workers at the beginning of 2020. The US has 500,000 independently-operated restaurants.

History

The coalition got its start during the pandemic after state and local governments started shutting down restaurants and bars to slow the spread of the virus. On March 18, 2020 eighteen restaurant owners gathered for a phone call organized by Andrew Chason of Creative Arts Agency to discuss the impact of the COVID 19 pandemic and the lack of representation in Washington, DC. Within 12 hours of this call a Coalition was formed and lobbyists were engaged. The Founding Members of the Coalition are Adam Saper, Michael Shemtov, Caroline Styne,

Sam Kass Samuel David Kass (born 1980) is an American political advisor, chef, and news personality, who served as President Barack Obama's Senior Policy Advisor for Nutrition Policy, Executive Director for First Lady Michelle Obama's Let's Move! campaig ...

, Kevin Boehm, Donnie Madia, Erika Polmar, Naomi Pomeroy,

Andrew Carmellini Andrew Carmellini is an American chef and restaurateur. Carmellini is responsible for the food and drink at the 15 restaurants, bars and food stands he owns with his partners at NoHo Hospitality. He has received a place on ''Food & Wine''’s B ...

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, Ashley Christenson, ,

Will Guidara William Guidara (born 1979) is an American restaurateur based in New York City. Along with chef Daniel Humm, Guidara co-owned the Make It Nice hospitality group, established in 2011, which owns and operates Eleven Madison Park, NoMad New York, N ...

, Steven Satterfield, , Bobby Stuckey, Kwame Onwuachi, Tom Colicchio, and

José Andrés José Ramón Andrés Puerta (born 13 July 1969) is a Spanish chef, and founder of World Central Kitchen (WCK), a non-profit devoted to providing meals in the wake of natural disasters. A Spanish-born and raised cook, he is often credited with b ...

Mission

The initial goal was to secure financial and legislative protections for restaurants and their workers. After the federal government passed the

CARES Act The Coronavirus Aid, Relief, and Economic Security Act, also known as the CARES Act, is a $2.2trillion Stimulus (economics), economic stimulus bill passed by the 116th U.S. Congress and signed into law by President Donald Trump on March 27, ...

the group said the bill's primary provision, the Paycheck Protection Program, did not help independent restaurateurs. At the end of April the group called for a $120 billion fund for small and independent restaurateurs, asking congress to exclude publicly-traded restaurants and large restaurant chains from accessing the fund.

References

{{reflist 2020 establishments in the United States American food and drink organizations Business organizations Food industry trade groups Lobbying organizations in the United States Organizations based in the United States Organizations established in 2020