Labor
Danny Meyer’s Restaurants Will End Their No-Tipping Policy
The New York Times 7/20
Union Square Hospitality Group, which helped lead the move away from tips, changes course as its restaurants reopen.
‘Strike for Black Lives’: Workers Protest Racial Inequality on Day of National Strike
NBC 7, San Diego 7/20
Workers from the service industry, fast-food chains and the gig economy rallied with organized labor Monday to protest systemic racism and economic inequality, staging demonstrations across the U.S. and around the world seeking better treatment of Black Americans in the workplace.
Food Industry Policy
Mayor Garcetti Admits that LA’s Reopening ‘Happened Too Quickly’
Eater, Los Angeles 7/20
Los Angeles Mayor Eric Garcetti seemed to take a shot at county and state officials on Sunday night, in an interview with Jake Tapper at CNN.
Northern California restaurant’s anti-mask stance prompts pushback
The Mercury News 7/20
A Placerville restaurant that is encouraging diners not to wear masks is going to receive a warning and possibly a shutdown order, county health officials said.
The Pandemic Has Pushed Aside City Planning Rules. But to Whose Benefit?
The New York Times 7/20
One month into the coronavirus crisis this spring, Oakland, Calif., began to restrict car traffic on some streets — ultimately on 21 miles of them — to create outdoor space for residents who suddenly had nowhere else to go.
On the Side
Panera Doesn’t Plan to Stop at Free Coffee Subscriptions
QSR Magazine 7/21
It feels years, not months, since Panera Bread unveiled one of 2020’s buzziest deals in late February. The 2,200-unit chain announced customers could subscribe to unlimited coffee and tea, iced or hot. Any size, for $8.99.
How Outdoor Dining Is Chilling Out the Menu in San Francisco
Eater, San Francisco 7/20
We might as well get used to the idea: Indoor dining doesn’t look like it’s going to be returning to San Francisco for a while. Just a few weeks ago, the city’s restaurants had July 13 marked down on as the targeted reopening date — that is until COVID-19 spikes around California brought the state’s reopening plans to a grinding halt.
The Cost of Reopening a Restaurant in a Pandemic
Eater, Detroit 7/20
During a period when restaurants are facing unprecedented economic pressure, they’re also incurring new and ongoing expenses.
Will the Restaurant-Retail Trend Return After COVID?
FSR Magazine July 2020
Both the retail and restaurant markets have been in a constant state of evolution, responding to generational shifts, technological advancements, and now, COVID-19.
Potbelly Hires Wendy’s Exec as New CEO
QSR Magazine July 2020
Potbelly announced Monday that Robert D. Wright will be its new president and CEO, replacing Alan Johnson.