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March 25, 2020
The Washington Metropolitan Area Transit Authority (WMATA) recently announced service changes in response to the COVID-19 pandemic.
Effective as of, Wednesday, March 25, WMATA will be fully closing 17 stations and partially closing others to ensure adequate staffing, bringing the total to 19. All service changes made by WMATA are indefinite until otherwise announced. WMATA strongly encourages only essential travel on Metro. WMATA has waived all fares for bus travel and strongly encourages only those with essential travel to use the buses.
Station Closures:...
March 25, 2020
DC-Area Restaurants & Bars Temporarily Suspending Business Operations Due to Coronavirus (COVID-19)
Anchovy Social
All Souls
Amuse (Hotel Le Meridien Arlington)
Anafre
A Rake’s Progress
Bad Saint
Bar Deco
Barley Mac
Belga Cafe
Ben’s Chili Bowl (Rosslyn | H Street | Nats Stadium | FedEx Field | Ben’s Next Door | Ben’s Upstairs)
The Betsy
Beuchert’s Saloon (takeout/delivery TBD)
Bindaas (Cleveland Park & Foggy Bottom)
The Bistro
The Bombay Club
Boqueria (Penn Quarter & Dupont)
BOURBON STEAK
Brasserie Beck
Brew’d
The Brixton...
March 25, 2020
We have a lot to share so please read this email in its entirety.
Thank you for being patient as we guide you through this most difficult and unexpected journey. We are all learning as we go each day and our commitment is to get you through this period with resourceful information. Here are updates for your Wednesday as well as resources you can use for your employees as needed.
Congressional Federal Relief Legislation, Phase 3
A bipartisan agreement was reached late last night on a recovery bill, with votes expected in the Senate (...
March 25, 2020
ServSafe is offering their Food Handler course online for free for the next 30 days begining Wednesday, March 25. Additionally, they are offering new COVID-19 Take Out & Delivery courses at no cost.
For 30 years, ServSafe has been at the forefront of preparing restaurant and foodservice workers to deliver safe dining experiences for their guests, while also keeping themselves safe. Every day, we train the restaurant and food service industry on topics like cooking temperatures, safe storage, and cross contamination, as well as hygiene, sanitation, and other risk mitigation...
March 24, 2020
Restaurant workers are considered essential employees that can be asked to come to work even when there are federal, state, or local, shelter-in-place Orders. Still, more and more states and localities are restraining travel, particularly during certain hours of the day, while restaurant workers need to arrive earlier than the time restrictions to make bread, brew coffee, etc., and stay past curfew to clean, disinfect, and close the premises. Meanwhile, some restaurant workers are running into issues with law enforcement restricting workers movement to and from work.
The...
March 24, 2020
Effective 10:00pm Wednesday, March 25, 2020
On Tuesday, March 24, 2020, Mayor Bowser announced as part of the District's effort to slow the spread of COVID-19 that she will issue a Mayor’s order based on the Cybersecurity and Infrastructure Security Agency (CISA), mandating the closure of nonessential businesses such as salons, barbershops, tattoo parlors, retail clothing stores and "services not devoted to assisting essential business operations" similar to orders issued Monday in neighboring Maryland and Virginia. A copy of the Mayor’s Order is included below....
March 24, 2020
DC Operators,
The process to apply for DC Small Business Microgrants went live at 2pm today.
Many of you, we understand, are trying to apply today and have questions or are experiencing glitches and need clarification. We are aware and hearing from hundreds of you. There are glitches any time a new program is launched and we are here with you to get answers and clarity.
To streamline this effort and to best help all of you, we are gathering all concerns, questions, and glitches in one place and will send all of your concerns and issues to the Deputy Mayor's Office (DMPED) this...
March 24, 2020
Dear Operators,
We hope you are all staying strong. Here are updates for Tuesday, March 24, 2020.
Restaurant Rescue Campaign
First, as we aim to tell your story and show the impact of COVID-19 on the food service industry, we will join a social media campaign tomorrow called #RESTAURANTRESCUEPLAN.
We will document on social media the number of employees who work at restaurants, bars and clubs in the region that have been laid off or furloughed to powerfully present to our government leaders and the public the devastation COVID-19 has had on our industry and why we need a #...
March 24, 2020
We have heard from several of you that some DC Unemployment Insurance applications your employees are submitting are being denied because they are selecting that they are “not actively looking for jobs”. We have talked to the DC Department of Employment Services (DOES) about this and they have acknowledged there is a glitch that is being fixed. The form is currently being updated.
When employees file, they should be putting “COVID-19” as the reasoning. If denied, employees should file an appeal. We will have further information on how to do this shortly...
March 24, 2020
WASHINGTON – Monday, March 23, 2020, US Small Business Administration Administrator Jovita Carranza announced changes to help borrowers still paying back SBA loans from previous disasters. By making this change, deferments through December 31, 2020, are now automatic. The changes mean borrowers of home and business disaster loans do not have to contact SBA to request deferment.
“The SBA is looking at every option and taking every action to cut red tape to make it easier for small businesses to stay in business. Automatically deferring existing SBA disaster loans through...
March 23, 2020
ATTENTION DC RESIDENTS: You can now enroll in private health insurance even though open enrollment is over. As part of DC Health Link's response to the Coronavirus (COVID-19) outbreak, they are offering a special enrollment period to allow those who are uninsured to enroll in private health insurance now. You can also apply for Medicaid at any time.
ENROLL NOW
Find out more about how DC Health Link and our health insurance plans are making sure you can get the care you need for COVID-19.
March 23, 2020
Dear Restaurant Community,
As we start off what will likely be another busy week, we want to provide you with helpful updates on the local and national level that will impact your operations, employees and customers.
The Senate and House are currently working on Phase 3 of the COVID-19 Congressional response. This will include relief for businesses, and we will send updates as we have more clarity on what will be included in the legislation. Our partners at the National Restaurant Association are aggressively advocating on our behalf to ensure the unique needs of...
March 23, 2020
Landover, MD – Keany Produce & Gourmet has donated over $100,000 worth of fresh produce during the COVID-19 lockdown. Since Friday, March 13, 2020 through Friday, March 20, 2020, Keany has donated fresh produce to various food banks, food halls, and charities to support their efforts of supplying community members with access to fresh food. Keany has deployed their own fleet of trucks to distribute these donations across the DC-metro region.
“While the effects of COVID-19 are certainly impacting our business, we want to do everything we can to support our surrounding...
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
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 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
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...
