More than a Meal
Restaurants are where we celebrate life’s pleasures.
I can’t imagine losing that, especially after so many months without much to look forward to.
“In a survey last week, the [Independent Restaurant Coalition] said 85 percent of independent restaurants could permanently close by the end of 2020 if direct aid, like a stabilization fund, was not provided,” says a June article in QSR magazine that explores the industry’s anticipated $240 billion loss by this year’s end.
The industry employs roughly 10% of the country’s working population, according to the National Restaurant Association, meaning that more than 15 million people’s livelihoods are tied to restaurants making it through the pandemic.
As restaurant owners look for ways to remain profitable, many have had to shift their focus. Below, we explore some of the ways they’re fighting to balance their own survival with that of their customers.
– Jennifer Bardoner, editor