Industry Voices

Closed Door Meeting

by Katie Lee April 2, 2021

— By Jen Castro — How a commercial security door can protect your business. You have invested a lot of time and money in your business and have developed its resources and reputation to be the best it can be. However, 2020 and the pandemic probably threw a wrench in your business plans. Storefronts are at risk of vandalism and trespassing now more than ever before, which is why business owners are searching for a flexible and resilient solution to maintain security and keep their inventory and/or store safe. …

April 2, 2021

Getting Serious About Signage

by Katie Lee April 1, 2021

— By Dan Smith — Investing in the right commercial-grade digital signage is as strategic as a brand’s messaging. Would you like fries with that? Increasingly, thanks to digital signage, the answer is yes. At quick-service, fast-casual and other national restaurants, digital signage and menu boards are gaining adoption and believed to contribute to increased sales. So it’s important that restaurants adopt technology that protects and augments those gains. There’s plenty of opportunity out there. According to the QSR Drive-Thru Performance Study, about 20% of brands deployed digital menu …

April 1, 2021

Industry Voices restaurants

What the American Rescue Plan Means for Restaurants

by Katie Lee March 24, 2021

— By Michael Krueger — On March 11, 2021, President Biden signed into law The American Rescue Plan Act. The Act has $1.9 trillion in relief funds, including $28.6 billion set aside for the restaurant industry in the Restaurant Revitalization Fund. The Fund lists the qualifications, priorities, method of calculating the amount the restaurant could receive, and the permitted use of funds. Qualifications The Fund is only for restaurants. The definition of “restaurants” means a restaurant, food stand, food truck, food cart, caterer, saloon, inn, tavern, bar, lounge, brewpub, …

March 24, 2021

construction and design Industry Voices parking lots security/loss prevention

Protective Priority

by Katie Lee March 22, 2021

— By Matt Calo, P.E. and Huston Dawson, P.E. — Safety should be top priority as businesses turn to outdoor space due to ongoing indoor restrictions. As spring arrives and states across the country continue to revise their restrictions on indoor gatherings, most urban centers have raised the occupancy allowance to 50% capacity for indoor dining and retail operations. The improving weather means that many establishments will expand the use of available outdoor space to enhance income potential and save their businesses. The COVID-19 pandemic has forced commercial establishments …

March 22, 2021

Industry Voices restaurants vendors

Outdoor Dining is Here to Stay

by Katie Lee March 12, 2021

— By Leslie Chapus — Outdoor dining became a staple during the pandemic — and guests have grown to love and expect it, no matter the weather. The good news is, investment in all-weather outdoor dining pays for itself. After a full year of pandemic living, customer demand for safe dining environments has taken full root in the American psyche. As restaurants evolve to these changing demands, industry experts from Food & Wine Magazine to worldwide management consultants McKinsey & Company are advising restaurant owners to embrace outdoor dining …

March 12, 2021

Industry Voices property management

Retail in the COVID Era

by Katie Lee February 18, 2021

— By Gary Glick — Top 3 lease provisions negotiated by landlords and tenants. Almost a year into this pandemic, retailers are still facing uncertainty in light of the recent spike of COVID-19 cases accompanied by a new wave of lockdowns and regulations across the nation. Eager to protect themselves from ever-changing governmental restrictions and closures, retail tenants, whether traditional retailers, restaurants, fitness centers or theaters, are now requesting a variety of specific lease provisions in almost every newly negotiated retail lease. In addition, prior to the COVID-19 outbreak, …

February 18, 2021

green news Industry Voices vendors waste management/recycling

Diverting PPE From the Waste Stream

by Katie Lee February 10, 2021

— By Jennifer Wolanik — How COVID-19 PPE compliance and sustainability can work together. Use of Personal Protective Equipment (PPE) in restaurants and retailers is surging in order to comply with the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) guidelines and to keep patrons and staff safe. As a result, businesses are generating even more landfill waste from used PPE, impacting their sustainability image. The impact of COVID-19 coronavirus on the restaurant and retail industry is undeniable as locations across the nation fight to reopen and stay open during …

February 10, 2021

construction and design Industry Voices retailers software/technology

What’s In Store

by Katie Lee February 4, 2021

— By Kenneth Gruskin, AIA — Coronavirus as a catalyst for innovation in stores and restaurants. The coronavirus has resulted in a cosmic shift in retail and hospitality. Customers have moved from seeking high-touch retail experiences, extensive product/service selection, and vibrant, extensive menu and dining options/experiences…to staying well. In response, retailers and restauranteurs are now focused on providing efficiency, safety and convenience. This has accelerated the transition from “bricks to clicks” and, with this, many retailers are adapting their physical locations to better accommodate the surrounding population, using these …

February 4, 2021

energy management Industry Voices kitchen equipment

Better For Your Bottom Line

by Katie Lee January 21, 2021

— By Tom Szafranski — Managing energy efficiency in a commercial kitchen. Energy efficiency can often be an overlooked component of commercial foodservice equipment; in reality, an energy-efficient unit is not only better for the environment, but better for the bottom line for the owner/operator. According to ENERGY STAR®, the EPA’s program to promote and certify energy efficiency, restaurants use around 5 to 7 times more energy than any other commercial facility. Additionally, energy costs for commercial foodservice establishments — such as restaurants, hotels and quick-service eateries — make …

January 21, 2021

HVAC/R Industry Voices lighting

Let There Be Light

by Katie Lee January 21, 2021

— By Mark Timmons — The 101 on UV-C lighting. Fall and winter present a new challenge in restaurant and facility management with the continuing COVID-19 pandemic impacting businesses around the world and now it’s flu season. Taking a look back, several months ago, in-person dining felt like an overwhelming hurdle. Reopening a retail business seemed daunting. Yet we did it. As we turn to stabilizing business, in some parts of the United States al fresco dining is done. It’s simply too cold outside for outdoor dining. With the …

January 21, 2021

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