MEMPHIS, Tenn. — More than 90,000 restaurants and bars permanently closed since the start of the COVID-19 pandemic, according to the Independent Restaurant Coalition.
That group is now calling on Capitol Hill to give them more financial assistance or risk losing many more. The group unveiled a letter signed by over 3,300 restaurants and bars from all 50 states that reported they are in danger of closing if Congress does not replenish the Restaurant Revitalization Fund.
The group held a press conference Thursday demanding action. They're asking to replenish the RRF. According to the IRC, only a third of restaurants that applied for the relief received it from the fund.
Also according to the IRC, 86% of restaurants that didn't receive money are at risk of closing.
The IRC said because of the pandemic restaurants and bars lost an estimated $280 billion yet they only received $28.6 billion in relief.
They're advocating for the Restaurant Revitalization Fund Replenishment Act that would provide an additional $60 billion.
In a release, the IRC said the debts struggling restaurants are incurring are only made worst by the rising prices of supplies.