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.

The DC Sustainable Energy Utility is Showing Love to Small Businesses with Free Energy Audits

September 8, 2020

The small business community in DC is the soul of the city. The District relies on you. The DC Sustainable Energy Utility (DCSEU) is showing love to small businesses with two limited-time offers to help you save money and energy. Free Energy Audits: For a limited time, the DCSEU is offering free virtual audits with one of our Energy Consultants. The audit includes: interviews with business staff, a virtual walk-through of the facility, and a report. Sign up to receive a custom report on energy savings opportunities. Enhanced Incentives: Need to upgrade lighting, HVAC, or food service...

Menupoly: No Contact Ordering and Payment Service for Restaurant Businesses

August 27, 2020

I am excited to inform you that we are now introducing a NO CONTACT ordering and payment service using QR codes for restaurant businesses . The service covers Take Out & Dine In orders, enabling diners to see visual menus, open tabs, and pay, using their phones with no need for any app downloads or user logins. This service helps restaurants deter COVID to keep diners and staff safe and save on their expenses during these tough times. This service is free-of-charge for restaurants as we only charge users a fixed tiny fee ($0.50) per order. Please visit www.menupoly.com/restaurant or watch...

Reminders, Updates, and Free PPE Kits

August 20, 2020

We know how hard you are all working to welcome and service guests and maintain safety protocols for diners and staff. We continue to hear that mask compliance is an ongoing issue for many operators. We are here to support as you encourage your team members to always put safety first over the wants of an individual customer who may not want to follow the rules. We also know that you want to avoid any operational consequences of having mask violators in your establishment, as a few local jurisdictions in our region impose hefty fines, license suspensions, and even shut downs for non-compliance...

Mask Up, ABRA Relief for ABC Licensees, Support from Sen. Schumer

August 18, 2020

We kicked off this week with cooler temperatures and more to look forward to as we head into the first of two weeks of our Summer Restaurant Week promotion across the region and as diners continue to dine out, take out, dine outdoors and support local businesses. Today, Mayor Bowser dined out to help promote Restaurant Week to media outlets and she is actively pushing out a new Mask Up DC video spot airing on Channel 16 and on social platforms featuring some of our local chef members encouraging diners to mask up for the safety of all. In DC , we have mentioned that we are working with local...

Training, Federal and DC Updates

August 13, 2020

We are constantly looking for ways we can expand, rework and reimagine the resources we provide for all of you in our operator community. Food safety is a critical piece of your operations, now and always. To meet your needs during this unique time, we have developed an online review class for those who are seeking to refresh their knowledge before taking the ServSafe Food Safety Manager exam to recertify their license. The webinar is designed to review the key concepts covered in the certified Food Safety Manager exam and will review purchasing products to serving the customer to how...

Job Board, Regional Reminders and National Updates

August 11, 2020

It has been 5 months since our world has been turned upside down and operations have had to be reimagined and reworked. While the face of dining looks different right now, your businesses and staff remain at the core of your success. As you continue to gradually bring more staff back to your restaurant, I want to encourage you to use the RAMW Job Board that is a FREE tool to use for RAMW members. We share job opportunities through social media platforms and through the networks that have been created around worker relief during this time. Posting is simple, click here to login and post jobs...

Rapid Testing Resources, Local and National Updates

August 4, 2020

With the start of each new week, we can hardly believe what we all have persevered through, and what has been accomplished on so many fronts to get to the next week, month, and stage of these unexpected times. We are 146 days into this, which no one could have imagined would be the case, and your steadfastness and creativity are what keep this industry going. Numbers across the region are staying steady, and while that is good news, it is important that you continue to remain vigilant, aware, mask up, sanitize, and keep these focused efforts going in your operations, with your teams, and in...

No Dial Back for our Region, and Other Updates

July 30, 2020

We know you all treaded lightly this week and assessed service options waiting for any updates on operational allowances, and we are relieved that officials across the region were all on the same page in terms of not dialing back in this region at this time. As of now, DC and MD have not dialed back at all and VA only saw a dial back for the specific region of Hampton Roads, as we shared earlier in the week. This is positive news as leaders are watching cases very closely, and do not feel that current status, though continuously focused on health and safety, warrants any changes at this time...

Updates from Around The Region

July 28, 2020

In Virginia, Governor Northam announced that he is issuing a new Executive Order that only impacts the Hampton Roads area that places additional restrictions on their operating abilities. This dialing back was expected as cases have increased significantly and caused concern in that region. This EO requires all restaurants in that area only to stop selling alcohol at 10pm and close at midnight, reduces indoor dining to 50% capacity and limits public and private gathering to 50 people. The Governor did state that if cases rise throughout the state or in other jurisdictions he will take steps...

Preparing to Dial Back Operations if Needed

July 26, 2020

Leaders from across the region have been keeping a close eye on the public health data. If numbers don’t come down in the next several days, we may need to take appropriate dial back steps to manage the spread of the virus. It pains me to think about what each of you have had to do to prepare for any stage of reopening. However, it is important that you consider the same steps in the event that we hear later this week that we may in fact need to dial back. We know it is rare to ever have the luxury of time to plan for much in our industry, however I do encourage you to use this week to...