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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.

Donations of Food Inventory Equals Sizeable Charitable Deductions for Restaurants

April 22, 2019
Aronson LLC // by Aaron Boker Restaurants that donate food inventory to charitable organizations could have the opportunity to claim tax deductions for charitable contributions, which are given special and advantageous treatment by the Internal Revenue Service (IRC). According to IRC Section 170(e)(3), a taxpayer is eligible for a charitable deduction for donated “apparently wholesome food,” if the food given to the charitable organization is for the care of the ill, needy, or infants. “Apparently wholesome food” is defined as food that meets all the quality and...

Restaurateurs Converge on Washington for National Restaurant Association's Annual Public Affairs Conference

April 3, 2019
The two-day event featured policy updates from US Representatives and Senators, and conversations with political pundits. National Restaurant Association Nearly 600 industry leaders from 43 state restaurant associations converged on Capitol Hill for the National Restaurant Association’s 33 rd Annual Public Affairs Conference in Washington, DC. The two-day event, titled “Serving America’s Future, recognized our Association’s 100 th anniversary. It also featured updates from Representatives and Senators on key industry policies, conversations with political pundits, and...

How the Gig Economy is Changing How Restaurants Hire, Manage Their Workforce

April 16, 2019
SmartBrief // by Tricia Contreras A tight labor market, high employee turnover and millennials’ desire for flexible work schedules are driving some restaurant operators to change the way they hire and manage staffers. A growing wave of tech companies are building hiring platforms designed to make it easier for operators and workers to fill open shifts. “We’re playing with some of the app hiring, but in very linear sense,” Dine Brands Global Chief Information Officer Adrian Butler said during a panel discussion at the 2018 Restaurant Innovation Summit. “At some...

Where Does the Food Industry Stand On Romaine Lettuce?

April 15, 2019
SmartBrief // by Emily Crowe Romaine lettuce has proven to be a divisive product within the food industry in recent years. Following two major recalls in 2018 due to E. coli contamination, retailers and restaurants were left scrambling to get romaine off their shelves and tables while also finding replacement solutions. Growers were left in an even hairier predicament as consumers began to question the safety of not only romaine, but also other leafy greens. Three months after being given the all-clear by the US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, the industry is dealing with the...

National Restaurant Association Releases 2019 "State of the Restaurant Industry" Report

April 8, 2019
National Restaurant Association // News The report identifies and analyzes the positive impacts and potential challenges coming in both tableservice and limited-service restaurants Find out what significant forces are impacting and shaping the restaurant industry, including the general US economy, workforce demographics, emerging technologies, and food and menu trends. The report analyzes the industry by service segment, customer preferences, and much more to identify the positive impacts and potential challenges coming in both tableservice and limited-service restaurants. It collects and...

DC Brau Hires Steve Carnes for New Head of Sales

March 28, 2019
DC Brewery Reshapes Sales Team with New Members and Shift in Responsibilities Washington, DC — March 2019 — DC Brau is pleased to introduce its new sales team including Stephen Carnes as Head of Sales and Stephen Taylor, Sales Manager for the Maryland and Virginia region. Kayleigh Tanthorey remains as the brewery’s Business Development Manager. “We are thrilled to welcome both Stephens to the DC Brau family,” says CEO & Co-Founder Brandon Skall. “With Steve Carnes’ extensive experience on both the distributor and sales side of the beer business,...Read more

Restaurant platform MarginEdge completes another funding raise

March 21, 2019
By Rebecca Cooper – Senior Staff Reporter, Washington Business Journal Mar 21, 2019, 1:24pm EDT Arlington restaurant software platform MarginEdge Inc. has raised $2.5 million for its next round of growth, including from a venture firm and some familiar names in the D.C. restaurant industry. The second seed round includes investments from Greg Casten of Nick’s, Tony & Joe’s and Ivy City Smokehouse; Geoff Tracy of the Chef Geoff’s Deluxe Hospitality Group; and Tim McLaughlin , founder of Caboose Brewery and GoTab. Other investors included Nigel Morris , co-founder of...Read more

Department of Energy & Environment (DOEE) District Sustainability Awards 2019

March 4, 2019
The annual Sustainability Awards recognize outstanding businesses and organizations for their environmental stewardship, innovative best practices, pollution prevention, and resource conservation. If you are considering applying for an award, we recommend that you track the energy consumption, water usage, recycling, and "green projects" for your facility. If you live or work in the District of Columbia, you may nominate your favorite environmental champion, green business, or non-profit partner for a District Sustainability Award. You may choose to nominate an individual, business...Read more

America’s Longest Government Shutdown Punishes DC-area Businesses and Workers

January 16, 2019
Economic shocks are felt throughout the region as the government holds back pay for contractors and nearly 150,000 federal workers. WASHINGTON, DC — The federal government shutdown, now the longest in our nation’s history, is putting unsustainable financial strain on contractors and the households of nearly 150,000 federal workers in the region, as well as the local businesses that serve them. In response, the following 22 business organizations strongly urge the President and congressional leaders to reopen the federal government as soon as possible: Apartment and Office Building...Read more

Depreciation on Buildout Improvements Still Unclear as Tax Filing Season Approaches

January 16, 2019
As filing season for 2018’s taxes nears, one area of the new Tax Cuts and Jobs Act (TCJA) that remains unsolved is how depreciation on qualified improvement property will be treated. When conducting a major buildout or refurbishment project, business owners are generally offered major tax depreciation incentives. However, these incentives could be at risk for tax year 2018, unless a technical correction to the new law is issued. Under the TCJA, fixed assets placed into service after September 27, 2017 are now eligible for 100 percent bonus depreciation, as compared to 50 percent bonus...

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