New IRA Member seeking candidates!

This week members of the Iowa Restaurant Association joined other hospitality industry leaders in Council Bluffs for a meeting with Senator @ChuckGrassley to talk about the business climate and recent tax changes including no tax on tips and no tax on overtime.

Every day, we walk past this wall- a growing list of names that remind us who we're working for. Restaurateurs who built something lasting. Chefs who elevated the craft. Employees who gave decades. Help us add the next name. Nominate at https://t.co/D8gfQkibNg #IowaRestaurants

Restaurants and bars say rising costs for licensing music have become untenable, pitting them against songwriters trying to make a living.

Free doughnuts for National Doughnut Day! See where in the story link -- https://t.co/AuTErVuQ4C

Iowa Restaurant Closing Just One Year After Winning Best Burger - 98.1 KHAK - https://t.co/YlpThyrMGF #GoogleAlerts

It's tough out there. Last year, almost half of Iowa's restaurants reported they weren't profitable. While no explanation is offered, this is sad news. Iowa Restaurant Closing Just One Year After Winning Best Burger - 98.1 KHAK - https://t.co/YlpThyrMGF #GoogleAlerts

National Waiters and Waitresses Day https://t.co/IPE2bCNtqG via @natltoday

https://t.co/vBfmXUBKG5

Iowa Restaurants Say Time Between Holidays is Important

Since November 2018, wages for new hires in leisure and hospitality have jumped 38%, making the industry second only to the trade, transport and utilities sector for pay increases, according to labor market and employee performance intelligence provider ADP Research.

The 2024 race for the presidential nomination is officially under way and Iowa Restaurant Association members have been busy raising our industry's issues to candidates. Check out a few photos from some recent events!

When a well-established bakery came up for sale, Sammy decided to leap into ownership. She reimagined the bakery to include late night noodle bowls, funky décor, craft cocktails & even peanut butter Cheez-It cookies. Listen to her full story below! https://t.co/KkBR0VfYSL

Coming up today a conversation with Jessica Dunker from the newly minted #Iowa Hotel and Lodging Association. With @IowaRestaurant

When biotech scientist Bethany DeVries left her corporate research position and purchased a boutique wine bar, she set out to replace any sense of wine pretentiousness with wine accessibility. Listen anywhere you get your podcasts or at the link below! https://t.co/v1WGMoDXtd

LeShawn Smith took a leap of faith when she left the corporate world to start a bakery. She quickly made her mark in the local food scene then her dream was nearly squelched by the pandemic. Help came from an unlikely place—Stephen Colbert... Listen below! https://t.co/yx9BM4D22K

Don't miss the upcoming episode of Table for Two! In this weeks episode Jessica sits down with LeShawn (Shawnnie) Smith who took a leap of faith when she left the corporate world to start a boutique bakery in Cedar Rapids’ Newbo City Market. Tune in on Monday, February 20th!

This week Jessica sits down with an award-winning chef who has long spoke the language of food, Chef George Formaro. He doesn’t need a gourmet meal to evaluate a chef. Chef George sees everything he needs to know by the way a chef makes a cheeseburger. https://t.co/Nx3CBQGvYb

Yesterday the Association was proud to support the industry at the Annual Travel Federation of Iowa Legislative Showcase. This event highlights the importance of tourism to Iowa’s economy and economic development efforts.

A big thank you to all who participated in our Legislative Lunch yesterday. The group got to hear an update from Joe Wallace of @WeRRestaurants and joined IRA leadership under the gold dome of the Iowa State Capitol to share the concerns of our industry with Iowa legislators.