— 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, …
Features
— 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 …
— Interview with David Ely, President/CEO, EDSS — R&R: Where are you based and how long has the company been in business? David Ely: Energy Design Service Systems (EDSS) is a woman-owned company formed in 2007. The corporate headquarters is located in Detroit with satellite offices in Boston; Boca Raton, Florida; San Francisco; and Austin, Texas. R&R: What trades/services do you offer retailers and restaurants? Ely: Energy Design Service Systems (EDSS) is not just your average lighting company (offering lighting design, supply, install, controls, lamp ordering portal and work …
— Interview with Rose Lollino, Vice President, CLM Midwest — R&R: Where are you based and how long has the company been in business? Rose Lollino: CLM Midwest’s corporate office is located in River Grove, Illinois, a suburb of Chicago located 5 minutes from O’Hare Airport. We have been in the retail maintenance industry since 2002 and have been expanding into new territories consistently year over year. R&R: How long have you been with the company? Lollino: As the vice president, I have worn many hats since the inception …
— 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 …
— Interview with Michael Hess — R&R: Where are you based? Michael Hess: Waste Harmonics is based in Victor, New York. R&R: How long have you been with the company? Hess: I acquired Waste Harmonics from Capital Environment in 2001 and my team and I have grown the business from a solely Northeastern U.S. focus to serving customers throughout the U.S. and Canada. R&R: What trades/services do you offer retailers and restaurants? Hess: We are a managed waste service provider. We act as a single point of contact, helping …
— Interview with Teresa Phelps — R&R: Where are you based and how long has the company been in business? Teresa Phelps: DENTCO is based in Dewitt, Michigan, and has been in business for 44 years. R&R: How long have you been with DENTCO? Phelps: I’ve been with DENTCO for almost 17 years. R&R: What trades/services do you offer retailers and restaurants? Phelps: Exterior Services Management (ESM). DENTCO specializes in assisting multi-unit companies, including retailers and restaurants, with consolidating the exterior services at their portfolio of locations. We provide …
— Interview with Josh Wilder — R&R: Where are you based and how long has the company been in business? Josh Wilder: Stratus is headquartered in Mentor, Ohio, with an HQ2 in Rolling Meadows, Illinois, and offices in New Jersey, Florida and South Carolina. Our 2019 merger combined MC Group and ICON’s shared and unique services into a single brand: Stratus. With our combined legacy, our signage roots date all the way back to 1931. R&R: How long have you been with the company? Wilder: I’ve been with the …
— 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, …
— 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 …