Newsroom

“We cannot overstate the vital contributions immigrants provide our state. They are the lifeblood of our industry. The restaurant community has been rattled this week by increasingly disruptive immigration enforcement activities that strike fear in immigrant families regardless of their status. Immigrants power our workforce and have an enormous positive impact on our economy. We would not be the 4^th largest economy in the world without them. We will continue our efforts with our National Restaurant Association partners to secure critical federal immigration reform.”

SACRAMENTO, CA — The Fix PAGA Coalition — represented by the California Restaurant Association, California Chamber of Commerce, California New Car Dealers Association, Western Growers Association, and California Retailers Association — issued the following statement on Senate Bill 310 being moved to the Senate inactive file

SACRAMENTO, CA – Members of the No on Prop 32 campaign issued the following statements today, declaring victory on Prop 32.

SACRAMENTO, CA – The California Restaurant Association (CRA) proudly announces that effective September 1, 2024, Joe O’Donnell will lead the association as Chairman of the Board.

SACRAMENTO, CA – Yesterday, Governor Newsom signed CRA-cosponsored bill, SB 1524 (Dodd + Wiener), into law, which clarifies language for restaurant pricing and transparency and builds on SB 478 set to go into effect Monday. 

SACRAMENTO, CA – Today, The California Restaurant Association is pleased to announce our support for legislation to reform the Private Attorney’s General Act (PAGA) after months of work with the Newsom Administration, legislative leadership, labor, and our Fix PAGA coalition.

SACRAMENTO – Sen. Bill Dodd, D-Napa, introduced legislation today to enhance consumer protection for California restaurant patrons by clarifying state law on the disclosure of hidden fees and other service charges.

SACRAMENTO, CA – In response to the FAQ on SB 478 (Dodd) released by California Attorney General Rob Bonta’s office today ahead of the July 1 implementation, the California Restaurant Association shares the following statement on behalf of more than 22,000 member restaurants small and large across the state.

Sacramento, CA – This week, the California Restaurant Association and the City of Berkeley entered into a settlement agreement halting enforcement of the City’s ban on natural gas piping as the City Council takes steps to repeal the ordinance in compliance with the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Ninth Circuit ruling earlier this year.

San Diego, CA – The California Restaurant Association, San Diego Chapter is excited to announce the upcoming High School Hospitality Conference, scheduled for Wednesday March 13, from 9:15 am-1:45 pm at The Rady Shell at Jacobs Park.

Sacramento – Today the Fix PAGA coalition released a groundbreaking new report by former leaders of the state’s Labor and Workforce Development Agency (LWDA), Division of Occupational Safety and Health (Cal/OSHA) and the Department of Industrial Relations (DIR), which found that employee labor claims filed under California’s lawsuit-first Private Attorney General Act (PAGA) take twice as long to resolve and provide workers only one-third of the compensation compared to employment claims reviewed by state regulators.

Sacramento, CA – The U.S. Court of Appeals for the Ninth Circuit denied a petition for rehearing filed by the City of Berkeley in the landmark decision California Restaurant Association v. City of Berkeley, marking a significant victory for the California Restaurant Association.

SACRAMENTO, Calif. (Dec 11, 2023) – The California Restaurant Foundation (CRF), a nonprofit that invests in and empowers California restaurants and their workforce, is pleased to award 182 independent restaurants with $5,000 grants…

SANTA MONICA, CA – Today, the California Restaurant Association (CRA) announces its growing coalition, Hospitality Santa Monica, to join together local restaurants, hotels, and community leaders as a unified voice to advocate for stronger policies from City Hall to address rampant homeless-related issues, poor public safety, and the growing costs to operate here.

LOS ANGELES, CA, November 9, 2023 – Restaurant Events LLC has announced that the Pizza Tomorrow Summit will feature a Pavilion offering exhibits and three full days of US Pizza Team Competitions at the 2024 Western Foodservice & Hospitality Expo, taking place August 25-27 at the Los Angeles Convention Center.

LAS VEGAS- Returning to the Las Vegas Convention Center March 18-20, 2024, Bar & Restaurant Expo is pleased to announce its unique networking and nightlife events, including industry meetups, happy hours, and late night parties. Registered attendees will have exclusive opportunities to mingle and make valuable connections with bar and restaurant professionals throughout the event, including:

LAS VEGAS – The largest gathering in the tea industry, World Tea Expo is pleased to announce conference highlights for the newly rebranded 2024 event, which is returning to the Las Vegas Convention Center, March 18-20, 2024.

LAS VEGAS – Questex announces the addition of the 2024 Beverage Challenge to the World Tea Expo’s robust lineup of events and education taking place March 18 – 20, 2024, at the Las Vegas Convention Center. Submissions are now open and close on December 15, 2023.

LAS VEGAS – Early bird registration is officially open for the 2024 Bar & Restaurant Expo, which will return to the Las Vegas Convention Center March 18 – 20, 2024.

Sacramento, CA – The California Restaurant Association (CRA) is proud to announce that Richard R. Frank will lead the association as its Chairman of the Board, effective Friday, September 1.

Assembly Bill 257 (or the “Fast Act”) was signed into law establishing new and unworkable requirements for quick-serve restaurants.

(Fresno, CA) – It’s almost time for the 2023 Best of the Valley Restaurant Awards, where this year, the LaRocca family will be recognized with the Lifetime Achievement Award.

San Diego, CA – The California Restaurant Association, San Diego Chapter will once again assist in coordinating the High School Hospitality Conference on Tuesday, March 14, from 9:15am-1:45pm at The Rady Shell at Jacobs Park.

Comprehensive literature review shows mismatch between recent media reports suggesting a link between natural gas cooking and respiratory illnesses, and what the studies actually say; large body of research does not support the respiratory illness narrative.

“With the number of active shooter incidents rising, no public place can think of itself as immune,” said the CRA’s President and CEO, Jot Condie. ..

AB 257 does nothing to help hard-working California families struggling with these costs, in fact it would only serve to hit their wallets even harder…

SACRAMENTO, CA – The California Restaurant Association (CRA) announced today a CRA-certified training platform in collaboration with Train 321, a nationwide provider of training for restaurant employees…

“Overall, AB 257 is a direct assault on tested, effective governance for which legislators are elected. The bill strips existing authority regulating and legislating the restaurant community…..

Los Angeles, CA — The California Restaurant Association (CRA) is proud to announce its enthusiastic endorsement of Los Angeles business leader and community member Rick Caruso for Mayor of Los Angeles.

SACRAMENTO, CA – Momentum is gaining to qualify the California Fair Pay and Employer Accountability Act of 2022 for the November ballot. Today, the campaign reported….

SACRAMENTO, CA – Today, the Attorney General released the official title and summary of the California Fair Pay and Employer Accountability Act of 2022. The measure…

As California restaurants continue to face uncertainties associated with COVID-19 recovery and rising supply chain costs, the California Restaurant Association is working…

‘No adverse health impacts’ from gas cooking;  analysis finds major technical flaws in recent UCLA study alleging connection between gas appliances and worsened indoor air quality.

SACRAMENTO – The California Restaurant Association (CRA) today praised California Governor Gavin Newsom and members of the legislature for paving the way to offer restaurants a less- bureaucratic…

On Sept. 6, the San Francisco Chronicle published the CRA’s opinion, from our President and CEO Jot Condie, encouraging local and state policy makers and restaurant diners to remember….

The National Restaurant Association has just completed a national survey of customers
to assess the state of the industry amid the rise of the delta variant of the coronavirus.
We concluded that a majority of consumers have…

Effective Date: August 20, 2021

Requirement: Restaurants must require patrons, contractors, vendors and staff that are 12 years or older to provide proof of Full Vaccination before they can enter any indoor portion of a facility. Restaurants…

SACRAMENTO — The California Restaurant Association yesterday filed a notice of appeal to the Ninth Circuit in its lawsuit challenging the City of Berkeley’s ban on natural gas in buildings….

SACRAMENTO – The California Restaurant Association’s lawsuit against the City of Berkeley’s natural gas ban was dismissed by Judge Yvonne Gonzalez-Rogers, in the Northern District of California, on the grounds that federal law concerning…

Governor Newsom has just signed AB 80, the long-anticipated state law that the CRA has pushed hard for since the beginning of the year.

On March 19th, Governor Newsom signed SB 95, a law that requires a new bank of supplemental COVID-19 paid sick leave to be provided by employers to employees within days.

In California, March 15th marks the one-year anniversary of the start of restaurant shutdowns, first with the closure of restaurants in the City of Los Angeles, followed by an announcement the next day of statewide restaurant closures.

As you know, we have been fighting hard for the statewide restaurant community as it relates to how the state treats your Paycheck Protection Program (PPP) tax deductions.

AB 281 by Assemblywoman Autumn Burke would bring relief to California employers and remove penalties for California businesses that received COVID-relief loans.

We have some news on some modest tax assistance for restaurants and what we hope is a helpful resource for compliance with new state and local laws and regulations- some enacted on emergency basis and in effect now- and others taking effect in 2021.

(Sacramento, CA) —The California Restaurant Association is proud to announce that Madelyn Alfano, a successful longtime restaurateur and leader in the Los Angeles business community, has been named Chairperson of the CRA Board of Directors.

(Sacramento, CA) – One of the most dire economic predictions made at the beginning of the coronavirus pandemic – that 30% of California restaurants would close permanently – is gradually becoming the reality, with…

California’s food economy relies on two distinct systems for feeding its nearly 40 million residents – traditional grocery stores and restaurants…

ServSafe Alcohol training provides restaurant staff with the knowledge they need to mitigate risks and keep customers and the business safe during the holidays and all year long. 

(Sacramento, CA) – The California Restaurant Association is pleased to announce that Theodore Balestreri, II, has been named Chairman of the Board of Directors, effective September 1, 2019. 

In this era of rapid change and uncertain futures for our industry, we want to celebrate one of our oldest members, Specialty Restaurants Corporation. They have defied the odds with their longevity and celebrate their 60^th year in business this year. What is their secret to success?