I am writing on behalf of F+B Hospitality a Real Estate Brokerage that supports local restaurant owners. We have seen first hand just how devastating the impact of COVID-19 has been on local restaurant businesses. Owners struggled to meet overhead costs, they watched with helpless resignation as their revenues plummeted, and throughout it all, they were rarely offered adequate support.

Across 2020, an estimated 110,000 restaurants closed in the U.S alone. That's roughly 17% of all restaurants in the country (Institute of Labor Economics). Those that survived were not left unscathed. The National Restaurant Association reports that restaurant industry revenue fell by $240 billion in the U.S. in 2020.

Insurance is designed to provide a safeguard against risks just like these. However, when these restaurant owners needed their insurance the most, many found roadblocks that prevented them from filing claims for their losses. This left many to bear the financial hardships of the pandemic alone.

We call on lawmakers and insurance companies to take action. The mandate is simple; restaurant owners should be able to file insurance claims for losses experienced during the COVID-19 pandemic. We ask that these claims be processed without delay, that denial protocols be reviewed, and that demands for impossible levels of evidence be addressed.

Our restaurant owners have served us faithfully for years. When they needed us, they found closed doors instead of open hands. It's time to rectify this mistake. It's time for the support they have been denied. It's time for them to reclaim what they've lost. Sign this petition to stand with our restaurant owners, and demand they be able to file insurance claims for their COVID-19 losses.