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March 21, 2020
Dear Restaurant Community,
I know you spent much of this week taking care of your businesses and employees. All of us at RAMW hope you also take a minute to take care of yourselves as you get through this weekend in this current state.
In our continued efforts to get relief for operators, we are joining a social media campaign early next week, created by our friends and warriors at the NYC Hospitality Alliance, called #RESTAURANTRESCUEPLAN.
We will document on social media the number of employees who work at restaurants, bars and clubs in the region that have...
March 21, 2020
Grants and loans for eligible small businesses to cover employee wages, operating expenses and loan repayment. This will be administered by the Mayor’s office who will also determine funding availability and guidelines. Click here for more information.
Sales tax relief: Returns may be filed up to 90 days late without penalty, provided taxes are paid by the end of the tax year, September 30, 2020.
Restaurants are granted the ability to provide wine, beer and spirits in closed containers with food deliveries and pickups. A minimum of one item of prepared food...
March 20, 2020
So far, Congress has received more than 170,000 calls and emails urging relief for restaurants ASAP! And, there's still time to take action!
If you have not taken action yet, we need your help to ensure relief for restaurants and our employees is properly addressed in the current legislative package!
CLICK HERE TO TAKE ACTION
Economic forecasts indicate restaurants and the foodservice industry could sustain $225 billion in losses and eliminate 5-7 million jobs over the next three months. By taking action, you can tell your personalized story about how this has negatively...
March 20, 2020
Dear RAMW Community,
As promised here is some end of day news as we head into the weekend.
As a reminder please visit https://www.ramw.org/blog for up to date information on all things COVID-19. We have recently posted a helpful FAQ section that answers the most frequently asked questions we have received and that will likely help you.
DC Mayor Muriel Bowser announced this afternoon that restaurants will be closed for on-premise service until April 27th. She is advising people to stay indoors, but has NOT issued a shelter in place mandate. Take-out and delivery...
March 20, 2020
Original content c/o: National Restaurant Association
Comprehensive guide, updated daily, houses all state ordinances in one place so operators can quickly understand how to comply with the rules and share resources.
As restaurants deal with a patchwork of mandates directing the way they operate during the coronavirus pandemic, the National Restaurant Association’s ServSafe Compliance Team has created a COVID-19 Resources by State document to help operators navigate and comply with the directives and mandates coming in from across the country.
The Association is...
March 20, 2020
Friday, March 20, 2020 - Today, Mayor Muriel Bowser announced that she has extended the District of Columbia Government’s modified operating status until April 27, including the adjusted DC Government operating posture and distance learning at the District’s public schools.
DC Government will operate under an agency-specific telework schedule, continuing to deliver essential services and keep critical systems and services operating. Some government operations will be performed fully remotely, while other services will continue to be performed at public buildings, but...
March 20, 2020
Starting Monday March 23rd, Astro Doughnuts & Fried Chicken will launch a new initiative: Comfort for the Crisis, delivering food each day to those on the front lines supporting the public during the COVID-19 crisis and others who have been most impacted. Astro Doughnuts & Fried Chicken’s food truck will take daily deliveries of food to area hospitals and Hook Hall Helps (an initiative to support furloughed restaurant and hospitality staff). For every $500 raised, Astro will donate an additional $100 of food. Every dollar counts, so please consider...
March 20, 2020
We know that everyone is anxiously awaiting guidelines and timelines on local relief and grants across the region. We want to share important updates on what we know NOW and what has been discussed in regard to potential timing of local relief efforts as we head into the weekend.
To start I want to remind everyone that you can apply for SBA loans today in DC, MD, and VA.
In DC, we were informed that guidelines on grant applications for local relief will likely be posted by the Mayor this evening.
The application process will start as early as...
March 20, 2020
See below for answers to frequently asked questions. If you don't see an answer to your question, email us at info@ramw.org.
How do I apply for SBA Relief?
Small businesses in DC, Maryland, and Virginia are now able to apply for relief through the Small Business Administration.
SBA’s Economic Injury Disaster Loans are just one piece of the expanded focus of the federal government’s coordinated response, and the SBA is strongly committed to providing the most effective and customer-focused response possible. SBA’s Economic Injury Disaster Loans offer up...
March 20, 2020
Updated – The US Small Business Administration (SBA) is offering designated states and territories low-interest federal disaster loans for working capital to small businesses suffering substantial economic injury as a result of the Coronavirus (COVID-19). Upon a request received from a state’s or territory’s Governor, SBA will issue under its own authority, as provided by the Coronavirus Preparedness and Response Supplemental Appropriations Act that was recently signed by the President, an Economic Injury Disaster Loan declaration.
Any such Economic Injury...
March 20, 2020
As you are aware, Sales & Use Tax payments are due on March 20th. Under § 58.1-617 the Tax Commissioner may for good cause grant a business an extension for up to thirty days. For this period, no interest or penalty would be charged, assessed or collected by reason of the granting of any such extension. In the event the Commissioner grants an extension beyond thirty days, there may be interest on the tax.
If you are interested in taking this route, you are able to request an extension by using the Virginia Online Services site here.
March 19, 2020
As much as we have been sending information around about what is happening locally across the region, it is critically important to be aware of what is happening on the national level, as a majority of funding for relief and stimulus will come at the federal level. The action taken on the Hill impacts us locally, so we must be engaged.
We have two important Congressional updates, and one involves you taking action TODAY.
First, we need you to ACT NOW to ensure Congress provides adequate relief to the restaurant and small business industry! This is the "Call to...
March 19, 2020
The DC Alcoholic Beverage Control (ABC) Board adopted an emergency rulemaking prohibiting the sale of alcoholic beverages for on-premises consumption starting Thursday, March 19th at 4pm. You cannot serve alcoholic beverages to people while they wait for their food order. This is in effect through the duration of either or both the Mayor’s Public Emergency and Public Health Emergency.
Please note for delivery and takeout of alcoholic beverages: they must be provided in sealed container and a beer with a lime in the top does not count as a seal. Establishments...
March 18, 2020
A helpful guide for suspending/closing your restaurant under challenging and difficult circumstances
Let staff take any food that cannot be frozen/saved.
Remove all trash from the building/Cancel Dumpster Pickups.
Take pourers off and tightly wrap open bottle tops of liquor in saran.
Leave all exhaust fans running - In the unlikely event of a gas leak or pilot goes out during the closing, the fans will help to exhaust any hazardous gas from the building.
Turn off any autopayment processes.
Cancel any scheduled deliveries. Examples would include:
Broadline Distributer...
March 18, 2020
Attention Montgomery County Restaurants,
All restaurants licensed by the Montgomery County Board of License Commissioners may sell sealed containers of beer and wine for off-premises consumption along with a takeout or delivered meal.
This permission includes the sale of bottles, cans, growlers, and crowlers for off-premises consumption and does not include the sale of alcoholic drinks in a to-go cup. This permission does not include liquor.
This permission expires when the emergency order to close restaurants is lifted.
Businesses may deliver beer and wine to Montgomery County addresses...
March 18, 2020
Dear Operators,
We hosted an industry-wide call this morning with regional leaders and we understand there were some technical difficulties. We had hundreds of people on the call, but as other businesses and organizations are needing to do everything by conference call, the platform was overloaded. We apologize for any inconvenience.
We are synthesizing the information from the call to share on our website including FAQs and resources shared on that call. This will be available later today on our blog where we are posting all real-time updates and resources. Please share with...
March 18, 2020
Dear Restaurant Community,
As we try to give you up to date information, we ask that you also be patient as we are doing our best to respond to each and every email and also provide you with information that has been subject to change. We received an influx of questions and want to provide some clarification shared in our earlier email.
UPDATED INFO
Virginia: Governor Northam Mandates 10 or fewer patrons
Governor Ralph Northam issued a new statement that changes his recommendation to a mandate, which limits the number of patrons to 10 or less. Restaurants are...
March 17, 2020
PLEASE READ THIS IN ITS ENTIRETY.
Tuesday, March 17, Mayor Muriel Bowser signed into law the COVID-19 Response Emergency Amendment Act of 2020.
Included is a provision that allows ABC-licensed restaurants and taverns to sell beer, wine, and spirits in closed containers for carry-out and/or delivery to DC residences in conjunction with the purchase of one or more prepared food items.
Before an eligible restaurant or tavern may sell beer, wine, and spirits in closed containers for carry-out and delivery, they must register...
March 17, 2020
DC Businesses Impacted by Coronavirus (COVID-19) Can Now Apply for Federal Relief Funds
(WASHINGTON, DC) – Tuesday, March 17, Mayor Muriel Bowser announced that the US Small Business Administration (SBA) has accepted the District of Columbia’s declaration for assistance in the form of economic injury disaster loans following the advent of the novel coronavirus (COVID-19), and DC businesses can start applying now. While the SBA directly administers this loan program, the Department of Small and Local Business Development (DSLBD), led by Director Kristi Whitfield, will liaise...
March 17, 2020
Dear Restaurant Community,
We have a few important updates to share with you based on what was passed by the DC City Council and recommendations from Virginia Governor Ralph Northam Tuesday, March 17, 2020. We are also sharing what is a work in progress and happening on the Federal level.
This is a long email, but includes important information, so please read the entire message as most of your questions could be answered with this update.
DC Update
The DC City Council just voted on Emergency Legislation, which means it goes into effect immediately upon the Mayor's...
March 16, 2020
BREAKING NEWS
DC Mayor Muriel Bowser issued guidelines banning on premise dining at restaurants starting at 10pm tonight and through April 1, 2020 at 6am. Restaurants and bars are still able to offer meals to go through take out, delivery or curbside service. Read the Mayor's order here.
Tomorrow, the DC Council is introducing Emergency Legislation that will offer relief for the local industry and its workers. More to come on what this relief package looks like tomorrow.
As a reminder, Maryland Governor Larry Hogan banned on premise dining...
March 16, 2020
A Note from the Desk of RAMW's President & CEO, Kathy E. Hollinger
Dear RAMW Members,
I am beyond proud of the resilience of our industry. As you are all very aware, everything has been turned upside down, and this is a quickly evolving situation. This does not take away from the fact that we are a community of small businesses that through the years have successfully adapted to changing times. We are impressed with your agility during this current situation, as you put in place rapid changes that are necessary in order to put the public health of your staff, diners, friends...
March 16, 2020
As an association we are focused on protecting restaurant operators during this incredible time for you as a business owner, we have also heard from so many of you about your concerns rooted in your employees. There are some local grassroots efforts to help workers, as you may have seen.
We are collaborating with Hook Hall Helps who are helping to ensure that workers have access to to-go meals and supplies. We started a Worker Relief Fund as well that has raised $14,000+ in 48 hours. First and foremost, we needed to just act on something quickly. This will be...
March 15, 2020
(Washington, DC) While the District of Columbia Government will begin to modify its operations starting Monday, March 16, in order to mitigate the spread of the coronavirus (COVID-19), the District government wants residents to know that it will continue to deliver essential services and keep the majority of its systems and services operating.
Operations and Infrastructure
District Department of Transportation (DDOT)
DDOT remains open, with most DDOT staff teleworking through Tuesday, March 31. Programs that will maintain normal operations are:
DC Circulator will operate its...
March 15, 2020
PLEASE READ IMPORTANT REAL TIME UPDATES BELOW REGARDING YOUR OPERATIONS.
All restaurants and community members have to be mindful as to how we are changing our operating culture to accommodate and enforce the new guidelines to ensure public health is the priority. It will require rethinking offerings and adjusting operations. We encourage you to think creatively about how your food offerings may look different.
Newly Issued Guidelines for DC Restaurants and Tavern License Holders
DC Mayor Muriel Bowser, has just released new guidance that directly impacts the restaurant and hospitality...
