
Tucson’s voice at the table. Let’s thrive together.
The restaurant industry is big business that contributes $1 trillion to our country’s economy. The Chamber's Restaurant Advisory Council directs the Chamber team on identifying and sharing best practices, policy issues hindering the hospitality and restaurant industry and ways to solve these issues.
TUCSON METRO CHAMBER RECEIVES COVID-19 RESPONSE GRANT
Tucson, AZ--- The Tucson Metro Chamber is one of 28 Chambers throughout the state to receive a grant from the Chamber of Commerce COVID-19 Response Grant Program, [www.azgovernor.us3.list-manage.com] established last month by Governor Ducey. Chambers of commerce submitted proposals to the grant program to implement, or expand, any initiatives that support local businesses and accelerate local economic recovery related to COVID-19.
Amber Smith, President and CEO of the Tucson Metro Chamber, submitted the request for funding on behalf of members of the Chamber's Tucson Restaurant Advisory Council (TRAC), a group of restaurant owners and vendors that actively engage with each other, elected officials and their representatives, and business service professionals to help guide TRAC members from survival mode to economic recovery.
“On behalf of our restaurant members, we have championed extension-of-use permits, drafted a local ordinance to reduce third party delivery fees, and brought in expertise otherwise inaccessible by many local restaurants. This grant will help us fulfill our ongoing mission to guide our members through programs like the “Keep Tucson Cooking” initiative, designed to reinforce the message of continued public support for local restaurants. In the coming weeks, PSAs, news releases, and media buys will run throughout Pima County through the COVID-19 pandemic and thereafter through the restaurants’ slowest part of the year".
The Chamber will offer small business grants in 2021. These dedicated funds are limited and will be granted based on an established set of requirements.
About the Tucson Metro Chamber
The Tucson Metro Chamber’s mission is to champion an environment where your business thrives, and our community prospers. The Chamber is a member-based business advocacy and community development organization that represents more than 1,500 businesses, employing more than 160,000 employees in the greater Tucson area.
TUCSON METRO CHAMBER MAKES IMPACT ON RESTAURANT POLICIES
Restaurant and Bar COVID-19 Measures
The Chamber’s Restaurant Advisory Council has been hard at work to ensure regulations during this time promote public safety while at the same time don’t place undue burdens on our local businesses. During these discussions, there have been a number of proclamations and executive orders approved by various entities so we wanted to make sure you knew what you can and cannot do.
- You need to take the temperatures of your employees before they enter the establishment. Taking the temperature of delivery drivers, contractors and vendors is encouraged but it is not required.
- Cloth masks and gloves and/or frequent hand-washing is required for all servers and restaurant personnel.
- You need to post a sign that says, "STOP Please do not enter if you have COVID-19 symptoms" at the entrance of the facility.
- Tables must be spaced a minimum of 6 feet apart from one another. Bar top or counter seating is not allowed, unless each party is spaced approximately 6 feet apart.
- You need to clearly mark 6-foot spacing marks and/or signage along entrances, hallways, restrooms and any other location within a restaurant where queues may form or patrons may congregate.
- You cannot seat more than 10 people at a table.
- Be creative with your menus and payment systems, like online versions, that reduce the potential of spread through physical menus and other points of contact.
- You cannot have salad bars and buffets at this time.
- Hand sanitizers or soap and water stations should be available at or adjacent to entrances to the facility, restrooms and in employee work areas.
- Like you already do, please carefully wipe down tables, tablecloths, chairs/booth seats, table-top condiments and condiment holders.
- You can expand your seating area outside and it does not have to be immediately adjacent to the existing restaurant footprint. You still need to obtain a permit but the jurisdictions have simplified the process for these temporary extension of premises.
- Liquor cannot be served to an extended area that is not contiguous to the restaurant.
- Restaurants and bars can deliver alcohol either through a delivery service or themselves. A Department of Liquor form is required to be filled out for each delivery.
CITY OF TUCSON ADOPTS TEMPORARY EXTENSION OF PREMISES MEASURES
- Seating allowed in a parking lot or private property
- Seating in walkways or common areas on private property
- Permits for banners and A-Frame signs are not required through the end of the year
- Temporary tents and similar shade coverings may be used when properly located, secured, and approved
- New seating does not have to be contiguous to the existing restaurant footprint (but state liquor laws must still be followed)
Tucson Restaurant Advisory Council.
Ray Flores, Flores Concepts | Chair
AJ's Famous Hollywood Hot Dogs
Arizona Food Marketing Alliance
Barrio Bread
Barrio Brewing Company
Beach Fleischman
Black Bear Diner
Divine Bovine
Canchola Family McDonald's
Caruso's
Chef Chic
Chick-fil-A
Churrasco De Brasil
The Coronet
CS Design Studios
Culver's
Dave & Busters
Dias Management
Finley Beer
Finley Beer
Fleming's Steakhouse
Flores Concepts
FORS Architecture
Fox Concepts
Fox Concepts
The Funky Monk
Frost
Gentle Bens
Heemee
HSL Properties
Hotel McCoy
HUB
Illegal Pete's
Johnny Gibson's Downtown Market
Kingfisher
Kiwami Ramen
Kyte Enterprises
Los Betos
Lucky Wishbone
Mama Louisa's
Marshall Foundation/Main Gate Square
Mi Nidito
Pappoules
The Parish
Penca
Peter Piper Pizza
PICOR
Pizza Hut
Prep & Pastry
ProVentures
Raising Cane's
Sentinel Peak Brewing Company
Shamrock Foods
Shamrock Foods
Shamrock Foods
Southern Arizona Ice & Water
Standard Restaurant Supply
Stillwell House
Sullivan's
Sushi Garden
Ten55 Brewing
Tucson Lifestyle
Union Hospitality Group
Univision
Visit Tucson
Whataburger
GUEST SPEAKERS
Richard Bratt, Beach Fleischman
Hans Rhey, Cox Media
Tim Medcoff, Farhang & Medcoff
Ellen Kirton, Pima Community College Small Business Development Center
Steve Ponzo, WaFD Bank