News - Illinois Restaurant Association

News

Illinois Restaurant Association banner

IRA News & Industry Info

Media Inquiries

For media inquiries, please contact Chip Bouchard of Kinship at chip@kinshipcompany.com.

IRA News
Thursday, March 19, 2020 Update March 19 - Take Action for Restaurant Relief! » The Illinois Restaurant Association continues to engage with local, state, and federal officials to help our employers and...
Wednesday, March 18, 2020 Update March 18 - National Relief; Emergency Leave; Unemployment; State Guidance » During this extremely challenging time, every team member on Illinois Restaurant Association staff is 100% foc...
Tuesday, March 17, 2020 Update March 17 - Alcohol Sale Guidance for Restaurants in Illinois and Chicago » The Illinois Restaurant Association continues to engage with local, state, and federal officials to help our employers and...
Monday, March 16, 2020 Updated 3/16 Coronavirus Resources; Carry Out Permitted at Illinois Restaurants » The Illinois Restaurant Association continues to engage with local, state, and federal officials to help our employers and...
Monday, February 24, 2020 IRA EVP Mary Kay Bonoma Named Industry Leader By Chicago Chefs Hall of Fame » Join the IRA Monday, March 30 at the Chicago Culinary Museum and Chefs Hall of Fame annual dinner at Joe's Live in Rosem...
Thursday, February 20, 2020 February Restaurant Rundown - The News You Need to Know » Check out this month's edition of the IRA's Restaurant Rundown monthly newsletter featuring the latest Association updates...
Friday, February 7, 2020 IRA on Third Party Delivery Services » The IRA’s top concerns with third party delivery services surround food safety, operator knowledge and consent to engage d...
Wednesday, January 22, 2020 January Restaurant Rundown: The News You Need to Know » Check out this month's edition of the IRA's Restaurant Rundown monthly newsletter featuring the latest Association updates...
Friday, January 17, 2020 IRA on Packaging and Plastic Foodware Ban Proposal » Alderman Scott Waguespack (32nd) has introduced an ordinance that would ban styrofoam takeout containers, require restau...
Friday, January 10, 2020 Action Alert Stop Tariffs on European Imports! » The Trump Administration is currently proposing tariffs of up to 100% on wine from the European Union (EU), French sparkli...
Friday, January 3, 2020 News Laws in Effect as of January 1, 2020 » There are several new laws and regulations in effect in 2020 that impact the restaurant and hospitality industry. Ple...
Friday, December 20, 2019 2019 Year in Review » 2019 has been a remarkable year for the Association and the industry overall. With your help and engageme...
Tuesday, December 17, 2019 New Illinois Sexual Harassment Prevention Training and Policy Law - What You Need to Know » Get Compliant with the Policy Requirement by January 1, 2020 - Template Available to IRA Members New legislation &nbs...
Tuesday, November 26, 2019 Tip Credit Saved in Chicago! City Council Approves Mayor Lightfoot's Budget, $15 Min. Wage Ordinance » Earlier today, the Chicago City Council voted 39-11 in favor of Mayor Lightfoot’s 2020 budget proposal – including the $15...
Wednesday, November 20, 2019 November Restaurant Rundown - The News You Need to Know » Check out this month's edition of the IRA's Restaurant Rundown monthly newsletter featuring the latest Associati...
Thursday, November 14, 2019 IRA, Restaurateurs, Servers Rally to Save Tip Credit; Mayor Lightfoot Introduces New Ordinance » Earlier this week, more than 40 restaurant operators, servers, and bartenders attended an IRA press conference at Norman's...
Monday, November 11, 2019 Sam Toia: Protect the Current Tipping System for the Benefit of Employees, Diners and Restaurants » This week, IRA President & CEO Sam Toia wrote an op-ed in Crain's Chicago to explain why the tip credit is so crucial...
Wednesday, October 30, 2019 October Restaurant Rundown - The News You Need to Know » Check out this month's edition of the IRA's Restaurant Rundown monthly newsletter featuring the latest Association updates...
Monday, October 7, 2019 IRA Leaders Sanchez, Meyer on $15 Minimum Wage/Tip Credit Elimination Ordinance » Last week, IRA First Vice Chairman Sam Sanchez of Old Crow Smokehouse joined WTTW Chicago Tonight to discuss the...
Thursday, September 26, 2019 September Restaurant Rundown - News You Need to Know » Check out this month's edition of the IRA's Restaurant Rundown monthly newsletter featuring the latest Association updates...
Wednesday, September 18, 2019 IRA Members Testify on Tip Credit, Minimum Wage at City Council Hearing » Yesterday, more than 20 IRA members attended a Chicago City Council subject matter hearing on a proposed ordinance that wo...
Monday, September 9, 2019 Sam Toia on Chicago Gourmet 2019, Proposed $15 and Tip Credit Elimination Ordinance » Earlier this week, IRA President & CEO Sam Toia joined Rick Pearson on the WGN Sunday Spin radio show to discuss Bon A...
Wednesday, August 28, 2019 August Restaurant Rundown - The News You Need to Know » Check out this month's edition of the IRA's Restaurant Rundown monthly newsletter featuring the latest Association updates...
Tuesday, August 20, 2019 IRA on New Sexual Harassment Prevention Law, Training Offerings for Industry » This week, Eater Chicago outlined the new Workplace Transparency Act - omnibus legislation recently signed into law by Gov...
Wednesday, August 14, 2019 Compliance Deadline for IL Secure Choice: Nov. 30, 2019 for Employers with 25+ Employees » By November 30, 2019 , Illinois employers with more than 25 employees must register for the new Illinois Secu...
Wednesday, July 31, 2019 July Restaurant Rundown - The News You Need to Know » Check out this month's edition of the IRA's Restaurant Rundown monthly newsletter featuring the latest Associati...
Thursday, July 25, 2019 Fair Workweek Ordinance Passes in Chicago: What You Need to Know » Yesterday, the Chicago City Council passed a Fair Workweek ordinance that will regulate employers' scheduling practices....
Friday, July 12, 2019 ALERT Immigration Enforcement Resources for Employers and Employees » In anticipation of potential Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) raids in major American cities, t he Illino...
Monday, July 1, 2019 IRA Educational Foundation Awards $178,000 in Scholarships » Last week, the IRA Educational Foundation held its annual Scholarship Awards Luncheon at Current Kitc...
Wednesday, June 26, 2019 June Restaurant Rundown - The News You Need to Know » Check out this month's edition of the IRA's Restaurant Rundown monthly newsletter featuring the latest Association updates...
Tuesday, June 11, 2019 Compliance Deadline for IL Secure Choice: July 31, 2019 for Employers with 100+ Employees » By July 31, 2019 , Illinois employers with more than 100 employees must register for the new Illinois Secure Choice Ret...
Tuesday, June 4, 2019 City of Chicago Tipped Wage: $6.40; Cook County Tipped Wage: $5.25, Effective July 1, 2019 » The City of Chicago has announced the new minimum wage rate for tipped employees, effective July 1, 2019: $6.4...
Tuesday, May 28, 2019 PepsiCo Partners with IRA Educational Foundation to Help Youth, Ex-Offenders » Last week, PepsiCo and the National Restaurant Association Educational Foundation announced a new community collaborative...
Friday, May 24, 2019 IRA on IL Supreme Court Ruling; Food Truck Regulations » Yesterday, the Illinois Supreme Court ruled to uphold Chicago’s food truck ordinance and regulations, affirming previous a...
Thursday, May 23, 2019 May Restaurant Rundown - The News You Need to Know » Check out this month's edition of the IRA's Restaurant Rundown monthly newsletter featuring the latest Association updates...
View "All News Items" »