Group Forms To Guide Framingham Restaurants on Re-Opening in a Post-Coronavirus Marketplace

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FRAMINGHAM – A group of restaurant industry professionals, restaurant owners, finance executives and local City Councilors has been formed to create the Framingham Restaurant Council.

Framingham resident and businessman Rick McKenna has partnered with Downtown Framingham, Inc.’s Director Courtney Thraen and chef/hospitality personality Al McLean to launch a proactive program to
help local restaurants – as they prepare to eventually open their doors, if they are even able to. Mclean is a Framingham resident.

The Council membership includes La Cantina’s Lee Mencoboni, Jack Abby’s Sam Hendler, Exhibit A’s Kelsey Roth, and Ken’s Steak House’s Tim Hanna.

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Framingham’s EDIC Chair Doug Lawrence, Framingham Business Association’s Dennis Cardiff, Framingham Licensing Board’s Tiel Wadland, SMOC Financial Services’ Deirdra MacLeod Richardson, and DFI’s Mike Gatlin head up the business/financial sector’s representation, as well as MetroWest Chamber of Commerce’s President & CEO Jim Giammarinaro. Members and Framingham City Councilors Phil Ottaviani, Mike Cannon, and Janet Leombruno will act as the liaison group between the Council and City government.

The Framingham Restaurant Council’s mission is to assist local restaurants by researching, analyzing and offering advice, in a proactive program—as they prepare to re-enter the post-COVID workplace.

Financially, the Council will work to secure funding to purchase many of the additional hard goods that will be necessary to adhere to the new guidelines for operations–to be distributed to local restaurants.

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In addition, the Council will perform a proactive role the communications process, educating the community on how the restaurants in Framingham will be going above and beyond, ensuring the public a safe and healthy dining experience, for diners and employees alike.

As a communications arm of the council, a Facebook group page, “Restaurant Recovery Alliance,” has been launched, aimed at stimulating conversation and a sharing of ideas between industry owners, management and staff in the MetroWest region’s restaurant and food service industry.

For those who would like to get involved in the effort—thru fundraisers, group or individual donations, a GoFundMe account has been established,

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Photo submitted to SOURCE media