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Governor Wolf Orders All Law Offices To Close

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Governor Wolf has ordered all non-life-sustaining businesses, including law offices, to close effective immediately. The governor’s order, remains in effect until further notice. The order allows “virtual or telework operations (e.g., work from home), so long as social distancing and other mitigation measures are followed in such operations.

We are all facing an unprecedented situation. As COVID-19 continues to spread, there’s nothing more important to us than the well-being of our clients. Pennsylvania Winery and Hospitality Lawyer has operated virtually for over a decade and we will continue to do so throughout these difficult times. Trust that you will be able to reach us so that we may continue to serve your legal, contract, or business needs that are important to your wine or hospitality business.

While these times are unprecedented and circumstances are fluid, we also know that they are temporary. We are inspired to see our people and community coming together. Please take care of yourselves, your family and the ones you love. We look forward to serving you.

Judy M. Young, Esq.

Principal, Pennsylvania Winery and Hospitality Lawyer

 

New Jersey Bars And Restaurants Under Investigation For Dishonest Alcohol Practices

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New Jersey State Officials are now investigation complaints about mis-labeled drinks used to scam bar and restaurant liquor customers. Samples taken indicate that the liquor sold was not the brand ordered. Dishonest practices used to increase profits have certainly put the owner’s liquor licenses up for suspension and or revocation as per the state’s Alcohol Beverage Commission. For more on these despicable practices see:

Taking Care Of Business: The Keys To Success For A Healthier Restaurant Or Hospitality Business

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Starting or running a successful restaurant or hospitality business can be extremelysuccesshospitality overwhelming. You need more than just your desire and passion to excel. Careful preparation is key to avoiding making painful mistakes along the way. Because, at the end of the day, diners vote with their forks. And…you want them to vote for you.

Getting the vote of your customers means your food or wine business enterprise will need to emerge as a success. If you currently own or plan to own your own restaurant, small chef eatery, catering, wine business or food selling dynasty here are a few good tips that will help you avoid some unnecessary pitfalls as you grow your successful hospitality enterprise.

A solid business plan is your roadmap to your future. Make sure you have one. A good solid business plan will help you to focus on your location, your anticipated customer base, and what measurable goals you’ll need to make to turn a profit. While you may be an awesome chef, caterer, or wine entrepreneur your ability to stay in business is also a function of your ability to control your costs. A business plan will help you to identify and track your goals and how well you are doing. A good business plan will cover a general description of your business, your financial management and marketing plans.

Develop a cash flow statement. A cash flow statment will project when you will need to borrow money, hustle for more business or reduce your debts. It will also guide you as to when you need to make those much needed capital investments and improvements into your business.

Carefully preserve you credit. Do not borrow for payroll or short term needs. These should be taker from your current cash flow.

Build a relationship with your bank. When it comes time to deal with loans or lines of credit, having a friendly relationship with your banker can be extremely beneficial.

If you feel you lack an appropriate business skill set because your real love is your focus on your food, then be sure to retain the right lawyer to look over your business contracts and to conduct your contract negotiations.

You may want to create a Partnership with another individual or entity not just for and injection of money, but for sound business advice. Alternatively you may want to enlist the services of a business or restaurant consultant who specializes in the restaurant industry. This can be a good resource to develop your ideas or help you to implement a successful business strategy.

Develop good employee relations standards. Pursue a good understanding of your federal, state and local labor laws. You want to avoid unfavorable legal action taken against you by knowing how these laws affect the way you need to conduct your business on a daily basis.

Visit your local planning department in your municipality to educate yourself on applicable zoning, parking, signage, noise, sewage and other requirements that you’ll need to know to cut through the red tape necessary to operate your business.

If you plan to serve liquor in your restaurant you’ll need to protect your business investment by ensuring that you’re properly protected from suits filed by 3rd parties for damages or injuries caused by patrons imbibing in your establishment. Invest in liquor liability training procedures for you and your restaurant staff.

If you incorporate these tips into the daily operation of your business, you will be well on your way to running a successful hospitality enterprise. Keep you eyes on the prize and remember the big picture. Success won’t just be measured in metrics alone but will be expressed with the people connections you make with your food. Now go out there and get your votes.

After-all, you’re taking care of business.

Pennsylvania’s Restaurant and Hospitality Industry “Happy Hours” Are Looking To Get Happier

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A legislative bill by state Rep. John Payne, R-Dauphin was unanimously approved by the state’s House Liquor Control Committee and now moves to the full House for consideration. The bill would allow the restaurant and hospitality industry in Pennsylvania happy-hourto have longer “happy hours”. The bill is aimed at giving restaurants and bars greater flexibility and would also allow them to sell more wine to patrons for off premise consumption at offsite catering events.

Currently, “happy hours” are limited to two consecutive hours per day, with a 14 hour per week limit. The proposed changes would allow establishments to hold happy hours up to 14 hours a day but still be limited to not more than 14 hours a week. The 14 hours could be divided up however the proprietor wants thus allowing for greater flexibility. Happy hours would remain prohibited after midnight.

Under current law a restaurant with a liquor license cannot serve alcohol at off site catered events. The proposed legislative change would allow a restaurant’s liquor license to be valid for off premise catering. The proposed changes would not effect dry communities. Serving alcohol in dry communities would remain prohibited.

Finally, the proposed legislation would allow a patron to buy up to three bottles of unopened wine and take it home. Albeit this can be routinely a more expensive way to buy wine, proponents of the bill believe this change allows the customer a way to buy those “hard to find” wines.

In that the proposed legislation House Bill 148 is aimed at modernizing the state’s liquor code, Payne’s proposal has the support of the Pennsylvania Tavern and Restaurant Associations.

Will Your Pennsylvania Restaurant Or Hospitality Business Be Voted Most Likely To Succeed?

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Running a successful restaurant or hospitality business can be extremely grueling.1888_vote It takes more than just your passion to succeed. You have to be well prepared to avoid making painful mistakes along the way. Because at the end of the day, diners vote with their forks. And…you want them to vote for you.

To do so, your food business enterprise will need to emerge as a success. If you currently own or plan to own your own restaurant, small chef eatery, catering business or food selling dynasty here are a few good tips that will help you avoid some unnecessary pitfalls as you grow your successful food enterprise.

Make sure you have a sound business plan. A good solid business plan will help you to focus on your location, your anticipated customer base, and what measurable goals you’ll need to make to turn a profit. While you may be an awesome chef or caterer, your ability to stay in business is also a function of your ability to control your costs. A business plan will help you to identify and track your goals and how well you are doing.

If you feel you lack an appropriate business skill set because your real love is your focus on your food, then be sure to retain the right lawyer to look over your business contracts and to conduct your contract negotiations.

You may want to create a Partnership with another individual or entity not just for and injection of money, but for sound business advice. Alternatively you may want to enlist the services of a business or restaurant consultant who specializes in the restaurant industry. This can be a good resource to develop your ideas or help you to implement a successful business strategy.

Develop good employee relations standards. Pursue a good understanding of your federal, state and local labor laws. You want to avoid unfavorable legal action taken against you by knowing how these laws affect the way you need to conduct your business on a daily basis.

Visit your local planning department in your municipality to educate yourself on applicable zoning, parking, signage, noise, sewage and other requirements that you’ll need to know to cut through the red tape necessary to operate your business.

If you plan to serve liquor in your restaurant you’ll need to protect your business investment by ensuring that you’re properly protected from suits filed by 3rd parties for damages or injuries caused by patrons imbibing in your establishment. Invest in liquor liability training procedures for you and your restaurant staff.

If you incorporate these tips into the daily operation of your business, you will be well on your way to running a successful hospitality enterprise.

Keep you eyes on the prize and remember the big picture. Success won’t just be measured in metrics alone but will be expressed with the people connections you make with your food. Now go out there and get your votes. After-all, you’re most likely to succeed.

Have You Considered “Greening” Your Pennsylvania Winery or Hospitality Business?

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Have you considered “greening” your Pennsylvania Winery or Hospitality Business? If so, you may want to follow in the footsteps of University of California, Davis. Looking to serve as a model for wineries and hospitality industries throughout the nation, UC Davis has launched the world’s “greenest” winery, brewery and foods facility. The new winery, brewery, and food processing complex was designed to serve as a “test bed” for production processes and techniques that conserve water, energy and other resources. For more information read: UC Davis Launches World’s Greenest Winery, Brewery, and Foods Facility.