Virtual town hall: What does opening really look like for NH’s restaurants?
Industry leaders to discuss strategies as state begins to reopen
What does reopening look like for New Hampshire restaurants and how can we find the right balance of allowing them to open successfully while maintaining public safety?
At 7 p.m. on Thursday, May 14, two Granite State restaurant industry leaders will engage in a live town hall about how New Hampshire’s restaurants can move forward and succeed.
Tiffany Eddy and Julie Alig, founders of New Hampshire Community Conversation, will be hosting the virtual town hall as part of a series they plant to support discussions about industries through the global pandemic.
As restaurants across New Hampshire prepare to open outdoor dining areas on May 18, there remains concern about how to ensure the safety of patrons and staff. There are also questions as to whether this step will be enough to make it financially viable to keep New Hampshire’s restaurant industry alive, say Eddy and Alig.
“New Hampshire has a rich history of participating in town meetings as a way to discuss important issues and allow us to collaborate to find solutions,” said Eddy. “We wanted to do something positive for our community and believe communication is always a key in helping chart the best path forward.”
The virtual town hall will feature a discussion with Tom Boucher of Great NH Restaurants and Amy LaBelle, owner of LaBelle Winery who will explore the future for Granite State restaurants and their strategies for reopening.
“There is a great deal to consider that can impact the future of the entire restaurant industry,” said Boucher. “Restaurants operate on thin margins. If we can’t scale up quickly, many of us in the industry will be forced to close, and that will leave thousands of workers unemployed and have a dramatic impact on our state’s economy. We need to be having this discussion now.”
“This is a critical time for our industry,” said LaBelle. “If we don’t act quickly, we might not survive and that would be devastating to our state’s economy and could dramatically change the landscape of New Hampshire as well as every restaurant or food service operation in the state.”
The event is free. To register, visit: nh_community_conversation.
