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Open Letter from GNO Chapter Vice President Scot Craig

6/23/2021

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After owning a business for nearly three decades, let's just say you learn a thing or two, one of them being best practices when building your team. At our restaurants, we see our team as family members and treat them as such. Our hiring practices reflect that mentality, and we seek out and hire candidates who share our attitudes, values, standards and goals - finding candidates who “fit” the culture is of paramount importance.

Being involved in the LRA also aligns with this emphasis on teamwork. As members, we often work together and lean on one another for advice. This particular benefit of membership is priceless.

Over the years, many people have approached me for advice about a career in the industry. I note that you have to be 100 percent dedicated to the job, no matter the title. Like Mr. Miagi said, "do karate halfway and get squished like a grape." Identify what you're good at, and hire people to do the rest!

Hope to see everyone soon as we transition to in-person events including the 2021 LRA Showcase, here in New Orleans, August 7-8 at the Morial Convention Center. Until then, I hope those of you participating in Restaurant Week enjoy the influx of locals back to your tables! Maybe you'll even have the chance to enjoy a meal out on the town yourself. Katie's has a pretty tasty 3-course lunch offering for $21, inclusive of a mouth watering serving of our white chocolate bread pudding. Just saying...

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Restaurants Continued to Add More Jobs Last Month

6/7/2021

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The restaurant industry added 186,000 jobs in May, according to federal data released on Friday, continuing a strong run of hiring as more restaurants open up for dine-in service and consumers eat out more often.

That was one out of every three jobs the economy added in May, according to U.S. Department of Labor data. The economy added 559,000 jobs and the unemployment rate declined to 5.8%.

Restaurants now employ 10.8 million workers, recovering 4.5 million workers from the depths of the pandemic. But in an indication of just how much the industry struggled during that period it remains 1.5 million workers short of its pre-pandemic highs.

The restaurant industry has been struggling to fill jobs in recent months even as state restrictions ease and coronavirus cases decline. Operators have raised wages, upgraded benefits and used incentives like sign-on bonuses or even interview bonuses to get people in the door. Chains like Jimmy John’s and Taco Bell have held massive hiring events, often hiring people on the spot.

Some McDonald’s locations are giving away iPhones to workers who take jobs and stick around. Operators say the challenge is largely about getting people to apply for jobs—not keep them.

“The challenge is more about applicant flow than it is turnover,” McDonald’s CEO Chris Kempczinski said at an investor conference this week, according to a transcript on the financial services site Sentieo. “It’s not that you’re seeing a big step up in turnover versus what was out there at pre-pandemic levels. It’s the applicant flow that is down pretty significantly from what we saw pre-pandemic.”
​

The labor force participation rate was 61.6% in May, 1.7 percentage points lower than it was in February of last year, suggesting a number of people have left the workforce and are not yet returning. There are 6.6 million people not in the labor force but who want a job—those folks are not counted as unemployed because they were not actively looking for work or were unavailable to take a job.
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What You Need To Know About PPP Loan Forgiveness

6/7/2021

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In key webinar takeaways, experts walk you through how to get lenders to approve your PPP loan forgiveness applications.

Lenders, not the SBA, are responsible for approving applications for PPP loan forgiveness, so it’s important that you and your lender work together to ensure application forms and documentation are accurate and complete. The Payroll Protection Program, part of the CARES Act legislated last year to help businesses get through the COVID-19 pandemic, pumped $81 billion into the restaurant and hospitality industry in loans during 2020 and 2021. Making those first- and second-round PPP loans forgivable was essential in making sure that restaurants aren’t burdened by more long-term debt.

Bill Briggs, an independent consultant and former Small Business Administration official, and Aaron Frazier, the Association’s Director of Health Care and Tax Policy, moderated a webinar on May 25 that helps explain how you can qualify and apply for PPP loan forgiveness.

The program, Briggs explains, was designed to help businesses stay open during the pandemic and keep people employed. And Congress legislated more changes in subsequent bills to make more expenses forgivable and the loan forgiveness process more streamlined. The process, he says, really starts with you and your lender.

Lenders, not the SBA, are responsible for approving applications for PPP loan forgiveness, so it’s important that you and your lender work together to ensure application forms and documentation are accurate and complete. Here’s how it works:

Loan Forgiveness Requirements
Both 1st- and 2nd-round PPP loans qualify for full loan forgiveness during the 8- to 24-week covered period if:
  • Employee and compensation levels are maintained
  • Loan proceeds are spent on payroll costs and other eligible expenses (such as rent, utilities, etc.)
  • At least 60% of the proceeds are spent on payroll costs (wages, tips, benefits and other expenses related to payroll).

Safe Harbors for Reducing FTEs
Two separate safe harbor rules exempt certain borrowers from having their loan forgiveness amount reduced based on a reduction in FTE employee levels.
  • Safe Harbor 1: If you’re unable to return to the same level of business activity the business was operating at before February 15, 2020, due to compliance with requirements or guidance issued between March 1, 2020 and December 31, 2020 by federal, state or local government.
  • Safe Harbor 2: If you reduced your FTE employee level between February 15, 2020 and April 26, 2020, and you restored FTE levels to either the level before December 31, 2020, or to the FTE levels in the pay period that included February 15, 2020.

Applying for Forgiveness
You can apply for loan forgiveness once you’ve used all the proceeds you received, and you have until the maturity date of the loan to apply. If you don’t apply within 10 months after your covered period ends, however, your loan repayment will no longer be deferred and you’ll have to start making loan payments to your lender.
​
To apply, here’s what you need:
  • Application form SBA 3508, SBA 3508EZ, SBA 3508S or a lender equivalent. Forms 3805EZ and 3805S are shorter versions of the form for specific types of borrowers, and your lender can help you determine which form is best for you.
  • Documentation for payroll expenses (such as bank account statements or 3rd-party payment records, IRS or state tax filings, and payment receipts or statements for employer contributions to health insurance or retirement plans).
  • Documentation for non-payroll expenses (business mortgage interest or lease/rent payment receipts or account statements; utility payment receipts, cancelled checks or bank account statements; grocery, supplies and PPE receipts; etc.).

Submit the form and documentation to your lender and follow up to make sure you provide any additional documentation your lender might need.

And give the process time. Briggs says lenders have 60 days from the time you submit your application for forgiveness to reach a decision on how much of your PPP loan can be forgiven. The SBA has an additional 90 days to process and review the lender’s decision and repay the lender.

You might have questions along the way, as did some of the webinar attendees. Examples include:
  • Q: What if you're not open during your 24-week window but plan to open once mandates are lifted and supplies can be obtained, or if you're a seasonal operation that won't start up until after your 24-week window?
    A: If a business cannot spend the PPP loan on eligible expenses during the 24-week covered period, the loan is not eligible for forgiveness. If only part of the expenses fall within the 24-week period you can still apply for partial forgiveness.

  • Q: What options do I have for PPP loan forgiveness if I can't meet 60% payroll?
    A: You can seek forgiveness for a portion of the loan, and then retain the unforgiven loan funds at a 1% interest rate over five years.

  • Q: Can I get PPP loan forgiveness if I received an RRF grant?
    A: PPP loan forgiveness is unrelated to RRF grants. If you received a PPP loan, the amount of any RRF grant you receive will be reduced by the amount of the PPP funds you received. However, you still can apply for PPP loan forgiveness by giving your lender the completed application form and proper documentation.

  • Q: What expenses are forgivable if I use a 3rd-party payroll processor?
    A: A any software you needed to purchase and the processing fees for payroll are forgivable, but not any other administrative costs.

Other questions participants asked included “safe harbor” rules governing how to calculate FTEs during the covered period you choose, and how to treat salary of owners of multiple restaurants. These and others are answered on the SBA FAQs page.
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"Shot for a Shot" Vaccination Registration

6/4/2021

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The Louisiana Office of Alcohol and Tobacco Control  has partnered with the LRA to encourage Louisianans to protect themselves and their neighbors from COVID-19.

Bar and restaurant may participate by registering on ATC Online System. Under customer portal, customer may click “apply for a new license” and select under license type “Shot for a Shot” Vaccination Program Registration.”

​There is no cost to participate and participants must submit a tally of non-alcoholic or alcoholic drinks directly to the ATC to be eligible for reimbursement. In turn, ATC will provide the information to LRA who will reimburse participating bars and restaurants $1 for every non-alcoholic drinks and $2 for every alcoholic beverage but limited to no more than $100 per participating business, subject to the terms of the program. Reimbursement will only be available through June 30th or until funds are exhausted.
​
PROGRAM GUIDELINES
PROMOTIONAL POSTER
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Turning the Corner on the Pandemic with Restaurant Week New Orleans

6/3/2021

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The Louisiana Restaurant Association’s Greater New Orleans Chapter, in partnership with New Orleans & Company, is excited to announce its 11th Annual Restaurant Week New Orleans will be held June 21-27, 2021. A special thanks to our 2021 Restaurant Week New Orleans presenting sponsors—TABASCO®, Louisiana Seafood and the Louisiana Office of Tourism.
 
During this weeklong celebration of New Orleans cuisine, participating restaurants in the New Orleans metro area will offer special pre-fixe menus including a two-course lunch for $25 or less and a three-course dinner or brunch for $45 or less. Many establishments are continuing to embrace the takeout trend brought on by the pandemic and offering a to-go option.
 
Restaurant Week is a welcomed event for many business owners. While the industry may not be 100 percent back to normal, restaurants want diners to know they are open for business and thankful for the community’s support. The timing of this year’s event is fortuitous given that the city has eased many restrictions and lifted its city-wide mask mandate for those who are vaccinated.  
 
“People are returning to our beloved restaurants with confidence in the industry,” explained LRA President and CEO Stan Harris. “Some people haven’t visited our restaurants in over a year, and now, as more people are getting vaccinated, they’ll hopefully feel a little more comfortable dining out in one of our world famous establishments.” 
 
There’s a diverse lineup of participating restaurants ranging from fine-dining establishments to neighborhood favorites. Discover new places or try something new at a trusty staple from nearly 70 restaurants registered to participate to date.
 
This year’s sponsors include TABASCO®, Louisiana Seafood and the Louisiana Office of Tourism Community Coffee and Louisiana Lottery.
 
To browse participating restaurants’ menus, visit www.restaurantweekneworleans.com. Reservations are strongly encouraged, and diners can do so through the website or restaurant directly. Don’t forget to share your Restaurant Week New Orleans experiences on social media using the hashtag, #RestaurantWeekNOLA. The fee to participate is waived for LRA-member restaurants. Please contact Nicol Jameson, njameson@lra.org or (504) 636-6527 for additional information.

List of participating restaurants below: 

Annunciation Restaurant
Arnaud’s Restaurant
Bayou Bar
Boucherie
Bourbon House
The Bower
Brennan’s Restaurant
Briquette
Bywater Brew Pub
Café Degas
Café NOMA
Cavan
Charlie’s Steak House
Cho Thai
Clesi’s Restaurant & Catering
Commander’s Palace
The Commissary
Copeland’s of New Orleans – Harvey
Copeland’s of New Orleans – Kenner
Copper Vine
Costera
Court of Two Sisters​
Criollo Restaurant
Deanie’s Seafood Kitchen
Desire Oyster Bar
Dickie Brennan’s Steakhouse
Domenica
Fleming’s Prime Steakhouse & Wine Bar
Fogo de Chão Brazilian Steakhouse
Galatoire’s Restaurant
GW Fins
Homegrown Pizza
Josephine Estelle
Justine
Katie’s Restaurant & Bar
La Petite Grocery
Liuzza’s Restaurant & Bar
Luke
Mr. B’s Bistro
Muriel’s Jackson Square
Napoleon House
Oceana Grill
Olde Nola Cookery
Palace Café
Patois​
​The Pelican Club
Porter and Luke’s Restaurant
Ralph’s on the Park
Red Fish Grill
Red Gravy
Restaurant R’evolution
Rib Room
Sala
Seaworthy
Shaya
Sylvain
Tableau
Tito’s Ceviche & Pisco
Tony Mandina’s
Toups’ Meatery
Tujague’s Restaurant
Zea Rotisserie & Bar – Covington
Zea Rotisserie & Bar – Harvey
Zea Rotisserie & Bar – Kenner
Zea Rotisserie & Bar – Metairie
Zea Rotisserie & Bar – New Orleans
Zea Rotisserie & Bar - Harahan
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Letter From Newest Northwest Chapter Member

6/1/2021

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First and foremost, let me say how excited I am to be a part of the Louisiana Restaurant Association. I look forward to connecting with the association on a statewide level, and I am hopeful we can continue to grow our Northwest Chapter by creating a vibrant and thriving restaurant scene. Shreveport is such an interesting community, and there are so many fantastic local farms and producers in the surrounding area - many who don’t know even exist. Over the last two years, I’ve had the best chicken, beef, and pork ever, and it has all been raised locally in or around the Shreveport area. I am excited for Shreveport and hopeful people will continue to recognize how great Northwest Louisiana foodways actually are. 
 
It also seems the pandemic has brought out a lot of creativity in Shreveport’s food scene. People are trying new concepts and pushing innovation in both food and beverage. It is exciting to see both local chefs and diners willing to try new flavors and experiences. We, as a city, have learned to embrace creative problem-solving.  Now is the time to test new concepts and push the industry forward. I also believe that we are a stronger and more vibrant community when we work to solve problems together and collaborate on big projects (or even small ‘guest chef’ or ‘guest bartender’ nights). 
 
Though we’ve been through the wringer over the past 14 months, struggling to navigate restrictions while keeping customers and employees safe, there were some positives that came out of enduring the restrictions of a pandemic. For us, it was a time to test new recipes and ideas. We actually came up with our second dining concept during some of these recipe testing sessions. Because our original concept was delayed due to the pandemic, we are now opening our second concept prior to the first. The pandemic also gave us time to develop better operating procedures and company structure. A large portion of our business during this time was private, in-home dining experiences, allowing us to connect with customers in a way we didn’t anticipate.
 
With summer around the corner and mandates being lifted, we are more than ready to see tourism back at 100 percent so we can finally fill up our restaurants and bars and start bringing back the local economy, better than it was before! Stay strong Northwest Chapter, I believe we are almost to the end.  

Brad Jones
COO, CFO 
Revenir Restaurant, Every Man A King Distillery
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