The Impact of COVID-19 on Restaurants

The restaurant industry employs 15.6 million people in the United States. Before COVID-19 restaurants were often overlooked as an integral part of the food system. When COVID-19 hit the United States hundreds of thousands of restaurants were forced to close their doors leaving restaurant workers and owners without incomes. Some restaurants closed their doors permanently but others pivoted and came up with innovative solutions to continue to serve food through COVID. The restaurant industry has been decimated. It’s estimated that around 100,000 or 1 in 6 restaurants have closed permanently or long-term. But with talk of a vaccine on the forefront many are reimagining a world post-COVID. What will restaurants look like when we return to “normal”?

Panel 1: What Is the Role of Restaurants in the Food System?

• Camilla Marcus, Founder, Independent Restaurant Coalition and Co-founder of the Relief Opportunities for All Restaurants
• Naama Tamir, Co-owner of Lighthouse and Lighthouse Outpost

Panel 2: The Pivot. Working Through COVID-19.

• JJ Johnson, Owner, FIELDTRIP
• Tom Colicchio, Founder, Crafted Hospitality

Panel 3: What’s Next for Restaurants Post-COVID?

• Andrew Rigie, Executive Director, NYC Hospitality Alliance
• Salil Metah, Chef and Owner, Laut Singapura Restaurant

Moderated by:

• Danielle Nierenberg, MS, President and Co-Founder, Food Tank
• Charles Platkin, PhD, JD, MPH, Executive Director, Hunter College NYC Food Policy Center

This event will be conducted online via Streamyard live, please register to attend.