- As many as 85% of independent restaurants may permanently close because of the pandemic by the end of 2020, according to a report commissioned by the Independent Restaurant Coalition.
- Independent restaurants, which comprise 70% of all restaurants, rely more heavily on dine-in revenue than chains and don’t have a corporate safety net or support system to fall back on.
- Restaurant owners say that while the Paycheck Protection Program provides a temporary lifeline, it won’t prevent most independent restaurants from massive losses that will force them out of business.
- Owners also say it will be a long time before dine-in revenue will return to pre-pandemic levels, meaning that many restaurants will be forced to operate at a loss.
- The IRC is pushing for $120 billion in grant funding from Congress in the form of Oregon Representative Earl Blumenauer’s RESTAURANTS Act.
https://www.businessinsider.com/85-of-independent-restaurants-could-permanently-close-in-2020-report-2020-6