Cashless businesses are now banned in NYC

New York City’s restaurants and other retail establishments will no longer be allowed to reject cash payments under  legislation passed by the City Council  on Thursday.

Supporters of the bill say cashless businesses requiring  credit cards and electronic payments like Apple Pay  discriminate against poor people who may not have bank accounts or credit cards — as well as minors.

NYC’s Rise in ‘Ghost Kitchens’ Will Face City Council Scrutiny

So-called “ghost kitchens” — restaurants created solely for delivery — are on the rise in New York, and City Council is now looking into the concept in hopes of protecting smaller restaurants. The oversight hearing will take place on February 6 and will look at how the businesses work. Bronx Councilman Mark Gjonaj, chair of the Committee on Small Business, is spearheading the effort; he’s the same person who has been leading inquiries on Grubhub in light of news that the delivery platform charged restaurants for calls that never resulted in orders.

Webinar: It's Tax Time: Don't Panic, Be Prepared.

Tax collection issues can put your business at risk. Learn how to avoid these issues – and if you have unpaid taxes, learn about collection alternatives and strategies to keep your business out of jeopardy.

The webinar will be presented by Karen J. Tenenbaum, ESQ., LLM, CPA. Recognized as a leading tax firm, Karen founded Tenenbaum Law, P.C., which helps individuals and businesses facing IRS and New York State tax problems. Karen is a frequent speaker on IRS and NYS tax issues for numerous professional groups on topics such as New York State residency, IRS and NYS collections, and more.

Bill Would Allow Marketing of Hemp-derived CBD in Dietary Supplements

Last week, a bipartisan group of representatives introduced a bill to provide the Food and Drug Administration with the flexibility to allow hemp-derived cannabidiol (otherwise known as “CBD”) to be marketed as a dietary supplement and food additive. The agency is currently working to research the safety of CBD and has signaled that it will conduct a rulemaking, albeit without a definitive timeline.

The legislation is seen as a way of prompting quicker FDA action as more consumers ask for it—especially in food and beverages. Many restaurant operators are looking for clarity as the market is flooded with CBD products—although it is technically banned in food and beverages sold through interstate commerce, and many states and cities have adopted their own rules. Stay tuned for further updates as Association staff review the bill and its implications.
The 2020 International Restaurant Show of NY

Join thousands of industry peers and enjoy samples, culinary demonstrations, education sessions, networking and more at the Northeast's Largest Food and Beverage Experience.

NYSRA members get two FREE TICKETS to The Restaurant Show. Simply enter your member ID when prompted.

NYSRA will be hosting a members-only cocktail party at Craft, NYC, on Monday, March 9th following The Show. We hope you will join us!











First NYSRA Lobby Day of 2020

Members from the Rochester Chapter of the NYS Restaurant Association came to Albany on Tuesday and met with several of their local representatives to talk about important issues that are taking center stage this year. Discussions focused on how the proposed paid sick leave mandate would dramatically increase costs and how a statewide polystyrene ban would affect the marketplace for alternatives. These restaurant owners were able to provide valuable context to officials and their staff, providing real world examples to the problems these bills would create.

We encourage our members in Westchester (January 28) , Western New York (February 11)   and New York City (February 26) to join us for their upcoming lobby days to continue the discussion on these and many other important restaurant issues.