ARHA Statement on Gov. Ivey's Plan to Reopen Economy
Press Release • May 1, 2020
ARHA pushes to reopen Alabama Restaurants
(OBA®) - The Alabama Restaurant and Hospitality Association (ARHA) is devastated for our restaurants and their employees who are ready to go back to work. It is disappointing that the plan to reopen Alabama’s economy does not include restaurant dining rooms.
ARHA developed the Alabama Restaurant Promise, a plan to safely permit on-premise dining, based on guidance from the National Restaurant Association, the CDC, the FDA, and ServSafe. This plan, along with further guidelines, was provided to Governor Ivey’s office in addition to submitting similar plans to Lt. Governor’s Task Force and the Alabama Department of Public Health.
A study by the National Restaurant Association estimates that Alabama’s restaurant industry will lose $585 million in sales during April. Restaurants simply cannot sustain this continued loss of revenue.
Bob Baumhower, CEO of Aloha Hospitality and Alabama football legend, owns and operates 11 restaurants in nine cities in Alabama. He says he is fearful that he will have to close one of his locations after hearing the Governor does not intend to open dining rooms anytime soon and she did not indicate a date at which she will do so.
Bob Baumhower, CEO of Aloha Hospitality and Alabama football legend, owns and operates 11 restaurants in nine cities in Alabama. He says he is fearful that he will have to close one of his locations after hearing the Governor does not intend to open dining rooms anytime soon and she did not indicate a date at which she will do so.
Reopening a restaurant is a complex task that cannot happen on a day’s notice. Communicating a clear timeline, objectives, and requirements relating to reopening Alabama’s restaurants is necessary to instill confidence in consumers and provide restaurant owners with the ability to plan and effectively make decisions.
ARHA looks forward to working with Governor Ivey and other officials to facilitate the necessary steps to reopen for the future of the restaurant and hospitality industry in our state.
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