A miserable year tested everyone’s resolve
2020 has been the year with seemingly no end, no bottom, no respite and precious few footholds to stand on in the ever-shifting sands. For operators in the restaurant and bar industry, it has fundamentally challenged them like never before, with a final fallout which will still not be known for many months. The numbers we do know now are frankly unfathomable, with the National Restaurant Association calculating that between March and November revenue from eating and drinking establishments were down nearly $192 billion from expected levels. However, amidst it all, there are lessons to be learned, as well as inspiring stories to read of resilience, and the grit, savvy and creativity that many operators channeled to keep their businesses going, in the hopes that they could serve as a harbinger of optimism for the future.