A group formed by the owners and operators of a variety of Richmond’s leading restaurants is asking our government to step in during this time of social distancing and help preserve the local restaurant community that helps define Richmond culture.
Supporting local businesses has become more important than ever in a time when coronavirus is devastating the economy. If we want the local restaurants we love to still exist when the current quarantine is over, we’re going to have to support them now. And no one knows that better than the restaurant owners and workers themselves.
Last week, in the wake of Governor Northam’s order that public gatherings be severely curtailed, a group of Richmond restaurants came together to form Richmond Restaurants United, an advocacy and support group with the mission of urging immediate action from the government and the community in order to save our local restaurants.
Their website provides resources for the thousands of workers who were laid off after social distancing went into effect, as well as resources for restaurant owners and operators seeking relief in the wake of a massive drop in business and trying to determine their next step.
They also released a video message, put together by Spang TV and Overcoast Music, which features a variety of Richmond restaurant owners explaining the current situation they’ve found themselves in and advocating for immediate help from local, state, and national governments in order to ensure that the restaurants we know and love will still be there after the current COVID-19 lockdown is over. See it below:
Richmond Restaurants United is advocating for immediate financial assistance from all levels of government, through a stimulus package that provides assistance for the industry and a temporary wage for furloughed workers the group is calling a Social Distancing Wage.
“What I need is swift action from our government with assistance that’s meaningful for our restaurants and our restaurant employees,” Michelle Williams of Richmond Restaurant Group says in the video.
Richmond Restaurants United has laid out a four-step plan at their website for those who want to help, including ways to donate funds, time, and services to the cause. If you’re interested, visit their website at richmondrestaurantsunited.com.
