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coronavirus_independents

Operations

Thousands of indies say they will close without federal aid

 By Heather Lalley on Dec. 10, 2021

More than 3,300 independent restaurants signed a letter Thursday saying they will have to permanently shut their doors if Congress does not replenish the Restaurant Revitalization Fund.

Financing

Some Casa Bonita superfans don’t want ‘South Park’s’ creators to buy the quirky landmark

 By Heather Lalley on Oct. 20, 2021

A group called Save Casa Bonita has filed an objection to the proposed sale, offering to pay $3.5 million for the Mexican restaurant/tourist attraction.

Operations

Independent restaurants remain in crisis mode

By Heather Lalley on Sep. 24, 2021

There’s little to no post-pandemic recovery for small operators, with the delta variant creating continued anxiety and uncertainty. And winter is coming.

Consumer Trends

OpenTable predicts a blockbuster Mother’s Day for restaurants

By Patricia Cobe on May 04, 2021

OpenTable data shows Mother's Day dining reservations up 64% in 2021 compared to pre-pandemic levels.

Marketing

Restaurateurs continue to expand into retail sales post-pandemic

By Patricia Cobe on Apr. 20, 2021

Operators are discovering that e-commerce can be a lucrative and permanent channel for selling food products and meal kits.

Operations

For indies, the pandemic year meant times of ‘total despair’

By Heather Lalley on Mar. 15, 2021

A traumatic 12 months coupled with an uncertain future create a chronic sense of unease for independent restaurant operators.

Operations

Help is on the way, but well-loved indies keep closing

By Heather Lalley on Mar. 15, 2021

Despite recent hints of optimism in the industry, restaurants are still struggling. Well-loved independent restaurants continue closing due to the pressures of the pandemic.

Operations

Operators prepare for a much different St. Patrick’s Day

By Heather Lalley on Mar. 12, 2021

St. Patrick's Day 2020 marked the beginning of a year of pandemic shutdowns. But, this year, restaurants are cautiously optimistic they can return to safely celebrating the event. It's a holiday many operators say is the year's biggest business day.

Operations

For the 1st time in a brutal year, operators feel a strange new emotion: Hope

By Heather Lalley on Mar. 11, 2021

Independent restaurant operators say they are starting to feel hope that the pandemic is easing, given a new federal relief package and increased vaccine distribution.

Financing

Biden gives indies a bump in the PPP line

By Heather Lalley on Feb. 22, 2021

Restaurants and other businesses with fewer than 20 employees will be the only ones allowed to apply for relief funding for a two-week period starting Wednesday.

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