Operations

Operating a restaurant involves a lot of moving parts – most controlled by you, but many controlled by laws, regulations, licenses and permits. Alcoholic beverages, food safety, labor practices and the implementation of the Affordable Care Act (the healthcare mandate) are significant – and then there is everything else.

Get to know the regulatory agencies that govern such things as sidewalk cafes, signage, noise, fire safety and more. And, get to know about the efforts being made by RAMW on your behalf to improve the regulatory environment.

Virginia Restaurants Must End Dine-In Service

March 23, 2020

c/o NBC Washington All public schools in Virginia will remain closed through the academic year and all restaurants must end dine-in service, the governor announced Monday as officials try to contain the spread of coronavirus. Restaurants can continue carryout, delivery and drive-thru service. All recreational and entertainment businesses are closed. All non-essential stores are limited to having only 10 patrons at a time. Theaters, gyms and bowling alleys must close, Gov. Ralph Northam said. Grocery stores and health services can remain open but must “adhere to social distancing and...

Governor Larry Hogan Announces Closure of All Non-Essential MD Businesses Effective 5pm 3/23

March 23, 2020

MARYLAND: An executive order has been enacted by Maryland Governor Larry Hogan, which closes all non-essential businesses, organizations, and facilities in Maryland effective today (Monday, March 23, 2020) at 5:00pm. Restaurants providing take out and delivery are considered essential businesses. This is NOT a shelter-in-place directive at this point. RESOURCES Maryland's Guidance on Essential/Nonessential Businesses (PDF) Order of the Governor of the State of Maryland, Number 20-03-23-01, dated March 23, 2020, Amending and Restating the Order of March 19, 2020, Prohibiting Large...

Tell Congress: Restaurants Need Relief Now!

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 impacted you,...

Updated Guidance and Information 3/20/20

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 service will continue. It is...

ACT NOW to Support Federal Restaurant Rescue Package

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 Action" Mike Whatley...

VIRGINIA SALES AND USE TAX

March 20, 2020

As you are aware, S ales & Use Tax payments are due on March 20th. U nder § 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 ...

All On-Premises Alcohol Sales & Consumption Suspended Effective Today at 4pm

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 should not be giving out...

All Pub Crawl Permits for March Events Revoked

March 13, 2020

All pub crawl permits for events scheduled to take place in Washington, DC now through March 31, 2020 have been revoked effective immediately. The 6-0 decision by the Alcoholic Beverage Control (ABC) Board was made based on guidance from the District’s Department of Health (DOH) that all non-essential mass gatherings of more than 1,000 persons be cancelled to prevent the spread of coronavirus (COVID-19). Mayor’s Orders 2020-045 and 2020-046 indicate that the spread of COVID-19 represents an imminent threat to the health, safety, and welfare of District residents that requires...

Montgomery County Alcoholic Beverage Services Update

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...

A Helpful Check List for Closing Your Restaurant

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 Knife sharpening EcoLab...