NYC COUNCIL HEARING TODAY: 500+ Independent Restaurants Support More Marketing Choices on Delivery Apps

NEW YORK, NY (03/29/2023) (readMedia)-- Council Member Marjorie Velázquez, Council Member Bob Holden, and 24 other co-sponsors today announced that nearly 500 independent restaurants and community organizations, including chambers of commerce from throughout the five boroughs and other local groups, support their recently-introduced bill (Int. No. 813) to allow restaurants more choices for marketing services on third-party delivery app platforms while making existing protections, including a cap on delivery fees, permanent.

Supporters of the bill, which is scheduled for a hearing this morning at City Hall, represent a broad spectrum of New York City small businesses and neighborhood organizations that are dedicated to advancing fair, equitable and diverse economic growth in all of our communities. The amendment – which is supported by 86 percent of owners and managers of independent restaurants, per a Precision Network survey – would continue to protect the restaurant industry from unexpected charges as was the objective of the original bill that was passed early in the Covid-19 pandemic. And it would just as importantly enable smaller and independent restaurants, many of which are family- and immigrant-owned, to voluntarily choose additional marketing services to reach new customers. This needed change will allow these businesses, too many of which were forced to close their doors during the pandemic, to better compete on a more level playing field with major brands and their huge marketing budgets.

"Small businesses and the organizations who advocate for them will be able to make their voices clear: Intro 813 will build on the previous Council's work to protect our restaurant industry while ensuring independent and family-owned establishments, including those in many of our districts, can thrive as they continue to recover from the COVID-19 pandemic," said Chair of the Committee on Consumer and Worker Protection, Council Member Velázquez. "We must provide our businesses with the necessary tools to succeed, and by supporting common-sense legislation that lifts arbitrary rules on restaurants, this Council will provide that opportunity.

"Our restaurants, including the many small, immigrant owned ones, and mom and pop shops in Queens, deserve the chance to compete with big chains," said Council Member Holden. "Market controls that limit options have unintended consequences on what stores stay open, often boosting chain restaurants over small businesses. Intro 813 will correct this and let restaurants thrive. I would like to thank the Consumer and Worker Protection Committee Chair, Marjorie Velázquez and all the other Council Members who are cosponsoring this legislation with me today. I look forward to working with key stakeholders and voting this legislation into law."

"We support the Holden / Velázquez amendment, which would provide greater flexibility to businesses without undermining the fee cap on third-party delivery apps," said Jessica Walker, President and CEO of the Manhattan Chamber of Commerce. "More than ever, restaurants and retail shops need to be able to compete in the digital marketplace so we should not limit the marketing opportunities that may be a smart investment for some of them."

"Business marketing is one of the most powerful tools we have in the business development toolbox," said Lisa Sorin, President of The Bronx Chamber of Commerce. "The Holden / Velazquez amendment modifying the commission structure third party delivery apps may charge allows businesses to freely receive and pay for enhanced marketing and visibility, increasing competition and allowing businesses to reach a broader audience. It is a common sense amendment that allows businesses to deploy revenue to better their businesses and has The Bronx Chamber's full support."

"As the most diverse borough in New York City, Queens' identity and appeal is inextricably tied to its small restaurants. In today's hyper-competitive environment, they must go well beyond their immediate neighborhoods to attract new customers," said Thomas J. Grech, President & Chief Executive Officer at Queens Chamber of Commerce. "But they need the right tools and flexibility in order to be successful at this. That's exactly what this amendment seeks to achieve, by giving independent, family- and immigrant owned establishments the option to decide what's best for them in growing their businesses - which is good for workers and the economy."

Last year, San Francisco lawmakers passed legislation that expanded and clearly defined restaurants' marketing services options rights. San Francisco's change followed a legal challenge in federal court to a marketing cap imposed in that city identical to the one imposed in New York. Following legislative compromise, the lawsuit against the city was dropped. A similar lawsuit is pending in New York's district court.

Supporters to amend the cap on marketing services include the following:

Chambers of Commerce/Industry Groups:

• Manhattan Chamber of Commerce
• Queens Chamber of Commerce
• The New Bronx Chamber of Commerce
• Brooklyn Chamber of Commerce
• National LGBT Chamber of Commerce (NGLCC)
• US Hispanic Chamber of Commerce
• US Black Chambers, Inc.
• National ACE / AAPI Strong
• Greater NY Chamber of Commerce
• New York Women's Chamber of Commerce
• Washington Heights BID
• NYC Hispanic Chamber
• Chamber of Commerce of Washington Heights & Inwood

Brooklyn Restaurants:

• Joenise Restaurant
• Fresh Remedy
• Genao
• Cielito Lindo
• Wangshack
• Filly Luv
• Royal Rib House NYC
• Trad Room
• Beso Restaurant & Bar
• Wadadli Jerk
• On Dekalb BK
• Barbu Gourmet Deli
• Yummy Halal Restaurant
• IV Purpose
• Convenience Store and Deli
• Rosalia's Cafe
• Rita & Maria
• Ma-n-Pop Soul Food
• Nostrand Ave Pizza
• Lucy's Vietnamese
• Valentines Pizza
• Chilo's
• New Carrizal
• La Lupe
• Tikal Cafe 2
• Pastelitos Elvys
• El Paisa
• Fukurou Brooklyn
• New Choy Hing
• Oso Minimarket
• Barchaa
• Max's Deli
• PLG Coffee House and Tavern
• Eats Delicious Bakery & Restaurant
• Jauja Mexican Kitchen
• King of Tandoor
• Carribean Vibes
• Lips Cafe
• Soldier's Restaurant
• Mirna's Pupuseria
• Saif Deli Grocery
• Georgian Cuisine
• Louie's Gyros
• Pete's Pizza
• somethingreek
• Birria Mania
• Come on Thai Cuisine
• Fatta Mano
• Greenhouse Cafe
• Karam Catering
• Food You Desire Corp
• Sunset Bagels
• Lazeez
• Moku Hawaiian BBQ
• The Brunch House
• Footprints Cafe
• Island Grove Restaurant
• Brooklyn Express Deli
• Joyce's West Indian Restaurant
• Rowe's Restaurant
• Bella's Fusion
• Caribbean Seafood and Grill
• Bar Bruno
• The Bad Bagel
• White Maize
• Los Angelitos Bakery and Grill
• The Crabby Shack
• Superfine
• Tony's Pizza
• 3D's Delight Restaurant & Bakery
• A & H Deli
• Brooklyn Finest Deli Grocery Inc
• A & O Imperia Grocery
• Six 2 Jamaican Cuisine
• Xcellent Soul Food
• Fix-U-Plate
• Sal and Paul's Pizzeria
• Lovin Life Salad & Juice Hub
• Brooklyn Dreams Juice Lounge
• Sal's Pizzeria
• Karam Restaurant
• Food You Desire
• Late Night Stop Deli
• Pizza Wagon
• Middle Eastern Halal
• Ruzana Restaurant
• Stewart's
• Fushimi Japanese Cuisine & Lounge
• Associated Fresh Market
• Tilden Deli
• D-Garden Bar and Grill
• Nostrand Express Deli
• Meisner's Catering
• Mr. Nosh
• Starving Vegan
• Saborcito Puebla Deli Grocery
• Pizza Nosh
• Ovi's Place
• Anna's Cafe
• Original Pizza
• Lucky Deli I
• Baya Bar Mill Basin
• Habibi Halal Gyro
• Lucky Family Deli and Grocery Corp.
• Yong Kang Street
• Sbarro
• de Islands
• Dacta Bird
• BKLN Diner
• Pizza on the Run
• El Mexicano Restaurant & Café 3
• Federico's Pizzeria
• 86th St Gourmet Deli and Grocery
• Chequito's Mexican Food and Pizzeria
• Cafe La Notte
• Shun Deck Restaurant
• Holy Schnitzel
• AvenUe Pizza
• Avenue U Eagle Kitchen
• TailGate Outdoor Sports Bar
• Palenque Colombian Food
• Parklife
• 2Dogz 2Go
• Brooklyn Kolache
• BKLYN Blend
• Cafe Pri
• Bushwick Grind Cafe
• Tiger Box
• Gertie
• Beef Bar Restaurant Inc
• Taco Edition
• Casita of Brooklyn
• Mamacita Comida

Bronx Restaurants:

• Corky's Diner
• Lulo Bronx Restaurant
• Salvatore's NY Pizza
• Que Sabrosura!
• Gallego Seafood
• Las Palmas Bakery
• Lagrimitas Restaurant
• Elsa La Reina Del Chicharron
• Kennedy's Chicken and Burgers
• Khalil Halal Chinese
• Brisas Del Caribe
• Q44 Bar & Grill
• GP Smoothies
• David's Soulfood Cafe
• Juices For Life
• Fresh Wey Juice Bar
• New Ranch Restaurant
• Ms Caridad
• Jimbo's Hamburger Palace
• John's Diner
• Dragon Village
• CEA - LO Cafe
• Mega Seafood
• El valle.com restaurant
• Zona De Cuba
• Juicy's Sweet Kakes
• Tasty Caribbean Plus Buffet
• Empanadas On the Hill
• Nicky's Coffee Shop
• Broadway Pizza & Pasta
• Gold Mine Cafe
• Pearl Dynastea
• Salvatore's of Soho
• Cocina Chente
• Yohan's Deli and Grocery
• Tony's Pizza
• Coffee Bay
• Kennedy Fried Chicken
• Mama G. African Kitchen
• Flamez Cuisine
• Sea Jammins Caribbean Cuisine
• Sabor Latino Restaurant
• Jimbo's Hamburger Palace
• Bravo African Restaurant
• Crab Stop Cajun Seafood & Wings
• Lasalle Bakery
• Made in Puerto Rico
• Yamada Japanese Restaurant
• Mangia's Brick Oven Pizza
• Pelham Bake Shop
• Pruzzo's
• Chirping Chicken
• George's Restaurant
• Honey's Thai Pavilion
• Jimbo's Hamburger Palace
• Nick's Pizza Lounge
• Thelma's Kitchen NYC
• Up Top Grill
• National Burger House
• Los Amigos Restaurant
• Sarr's Essential Palace & Juice Bar
• Primavera Cafe
• Pugsley Pizza
• Pete's Cafe
• Fratilli's Pizza
• Osu-Re Grill
• Market Place Restaurant & Cocktail
• Rivera's Meat Market
• Allen's Restaurant
• Sazon Latino
• Simpson Deli & Grocery
• Tulcimex
• Tia Deli Juice Corp.
• Kennedy Fried Chicken
• Andrea's Deli Grocery
• Circle Pizza
• Azteca Bakery
• Krispy Krunchy Chicken
• Guatelinda
• Sabrosura 2
• Pupuseria Salvadorena
• Estrellita Poblana
• Melanie's Roti
• Picante Picante
• Liberato Restaurant
• Los Castillo Mini Market & Deli
• New Andrew's Deli Grocery
• Number 8 Chinese Rest.
• La Fuente Bailey Deli
• Big Cheese Pizza
• La Rosa Bakery
• New Capital Restaurant
• RJC Family's Cafe
• El Mangu Restaurant
• East Burnside King Deli
• Tu Bodega Deli Grocery
• LA Estrella
• Tacos El Paisanito
• Fordham Hill Food
• Antojitos La Garnacha
• Dominicana Pollo Sabroso
• La Finca Deli and Grocery
• Empanadas King
• Imperial Cafe & Deli

Queens Restaurants:

• Bell Diner
• Our Village Roti Shop
• Sushi You
• Honest Indian Restaurant
• Ararat Bakery
• Chicky's
• Hi-Class Pizza
• Flavor King
• LA Aurora Dominica restaurant
• KIN'D
• KAMALA KITCHEN
• Union Bistro
• Bellrose Farms
• Harry Sweets and Snacks
• Ramen Jin
• Blaze Pizza
• Qdoba Mexican Eats
• Red Mango
• Jassi's Fine Indian Cuisine
• Shirazi Kebab House
• Halal Munchies
• Crazy Meat
• Afghan Kebab House
• Namaste Authentic Indian Cuisine
• A Churrasqueira
• Bakewell Bakery and Restaurant
• 3M Bar and Grill
• Silver Star Roti
• Marz Restaurant and Grill
• Port Royal Restaurant
• Habibi Gourmet Deli
• Bigwell Bakery Halal Restaurant
• New Chinese Garden of Guyana
• Greenwood Quality Bakery
• Liberty Kennedy Fried Chicken
• Firefly New York
• Sabor Restaurant & Bakery
• Shogun Japan
• Pecoshitas Bakery
• Nneji
• La Baraka
• Tada Noodles
• Jang Dok Dae
• Sai
• Yumpling
• Halal Bros & Brasa
• House of Saturn Cafe
• Famous Gold Tim's Deli and Grill
• Whitepoint Pizza
• Liola
• View Pizzeria
• Tasty Grill
• Bowne Park Deli
• Mezza
• The Celtic Cove
• Kumo Sushi
• Windies
• Yummy Tacos
• Bobby's Jamaican Restaurant
• Farmers Pizza & Grill
• The Smokehouse
• Gerizim Burger Factory
• Julian Deli Corp.
• J & C Seafood
• L.P. Mini Market Corp.
• Hollis Ave Mini Market
• 203 Soul Deli
• Fishnet
• Las Margaritas
• Mum Mediterranean Cuisine
• Corato I Pizza Restaurant
• Varenyk House
• Chiquita's Restaurant
• Nomad Cafe & Eatery
• Sam Spo?em
• Forest Ave Deli Corp.
• Catania Bakery
• Atomic Wings
• 89 Gourmet Deli
• Norman Deli
• Portland Island Jerk
• Pitkins Fish & Chicken
• El Puerto Mexicano II
• Caridad Restaurant
• D'Aleo's Pizza
• Antojitos de San Cecilio
• La Sierra Del Tio Rody
• Tea Mania NY
• CJ's Bar & Lounge
• Breaker RBNY
• Juicy King Crab Express
• Southern Girls Soul Food
• A Live Kitchen
• Jamaica Breeze Buffet
• Sunny Restaurant
• Valientes Restaurant
• Caribbean Soul
• Rhythm Rest. & Bar
• Ali's Roti Shop
• Halal Bros Grill Rosedale
• G & M Caribbean Restaurant
• Ranchito Salvadoreño Inc
• Sabor de Cuba
• Jägerhaus Restaurant

Manhattan Restaurants:

• Tuome
• Birria LES
• Dallas BBQ
• Dumpling N'Dips
• IXTA Cocina Mexicana + Mezcal Bar
• Mamoun's Falafel
• Oh! K-Dog
• Planet Taco
• CoCo Fresh Tea & Juice
• Butter Lane Bakery
• Raíz
• Brooklyn Dumpling Shop
• Paquito's
• Davey's Ice Cream
• Spot Dessert Bar
• Le Fournil Bakery
• Viva Cucina
• Desi Stop & Deli
• Obicà
• Bao Bao Cafe
• NAYA
• Juice Generation
• Master Tokyo Ramen
• Dim Sum Sam
• Mad For Chicken
• Joe's Pizza
• Joy Love Club
• Lasagna Restaurant Chelsea
• Rocco's Pizza
• Shaffer's
• Willow
• FLÉ FLÉ Grill
• Kame
• S&A Gourmet Deli
• Bocca Di Bacco
• Mama Mia 44sw
• Scallywag's
• A la Turka
• Bigoi Venezia
• La Esquina NYC
• Rangoli Exquisite Indian Cuisine
• Two Wheels
• Jean Claude II
• Village Square Pizza
• Mike's Bistro
• Nino's 46
• Akdeniz Turkish Cuisine
• Sen Sakana
• LOVE Korean BBQ
• Bonchon Chicken
• Pinkberry
• Taste of Lex
• Fillmore Delicatessan
• Jacques Brasserie
• Sushi Para
• Greek Eats
• Patsy's Pizzeria
• Adyar Ananda Bhavan
• Cafe Luka
• Sutton Cafe
• Brooklyn Pizza Masters
• Boulud Sud
• Joe & The Juice
• Magnolia Bakery
• Kissaki
• Parm
• Shun Lee West
• Vive la Crêpe
• Venchi
• El Mitote
• The Sensuous Bean
• Harvest Kitchen
• American Wing Company
• Bermudez Bakery
• Between the Bun
• Brisas Del Mar
• Mr. Sulis Gourmet Deli
• NY Grill and Deli
• Ocean Deli Corp
• Pabade Bakery
• Cuchifritos
• Quesadillas Doña Maty
• Hole in the Wall Restaurant
• Refried Beans Mexican Grill
• La Casa Del Mofongo
• Jimbo's Hamburger Palace
• Yummy Thai
• Suspiro Bakery
• Junior's Seafood
• Mi Ranchito
• Malecon Restaurant
• Taco Inn
• Barrel 79
• Dan's Supermarket
• Charlie's Pizza
• Chicken Ranch
• Taqueria el Gallito
• Tierra Y Mar Restaurant
• Cachapas Y Mas
• Punto De Sabor
• Sapoara
• Harlem Burger Co. & Harlem Pizza Co.
• 4West Lounge
• Henrietta Hudson
• Kopitiam
• Delizia 92
• Vietnaam
• Tal Bagels
• Mimi's Pizza
• Piccolo Trattoria
• Effy's Cafe on York
• Cafe York
• Arturo's Pizza
• El Palacio Seafood Market
• Fort Washington Public House Bar & Restaurant
• Pizzeria L'antica
• Bus Stop Diner
• Avrilililly's Creamery
• Burger & Shake Co.
• Blue Corn Restaurant
• Tartina
• 314
• DIG
• Park Italian Gourmet
• Lasagna Restaurant
• Operation Falafel
• Hide-Chan Ramen

Staten Island Restaurants:

• Friendly Bagels & Deli
• Charmar Superette
• Brooklyn Italian Heroes
• Delmas 48
• Call It A Wrap
• Milk-N-Things
• Moretti Bakery
• Renato's Pastry Shoppe
• A & S Food Corp
• Panini Grill
• Wild Crab House
• The Cafe
• The Beer Garden
• Staten Island Diner
• Island Cafe
• In Fine Fettle
• The Pizza Parlor
• Moe's Southwest Grill
• On A Roll
• Al Aqsa Restaurant
• Bruno's
• Royal Crown Bakery
• M & M Deli & Bagels
• The Sandwich Shop
• Mona Lisa Pizzeria
• Juicy Lucy BBQ
• Around the Clock Deli
• Bagel Depot
• Lil M Bubble Tea
• The Pastrami Shoppe
• Sal & Lloyd's Pizza Place
• DOUGH by Licastri Eltingville

Community Organizations:

• Madison Square Boys & Girls Club
• Haitian-Americans United for Progress
• Opportunities for a Better Tomorrow (OBT)
• Relief Access Program for The Bronx (Rap4Bronx)
• One Hundred Black Men, Inc.
• Mekong
• Muslim Community Network
• Throggs Neck Community Alliance
• South Asian Council for Social Services
• Women Impacting Public Policy
• Rescuing Leftover Cuisine
• The Door
• Tacombi Foundation
• Crossroads Community Services
• bKind - Trauma to Triumphs, inc.
• Variety Boys and Girls Club of Queens
• East New York United Concerned Citizens
• African Services Committee
• Mott Haven Historic Districts Association
• Bangladeshi American Community Development & Youth Services
• Council of People Organization
• Bangladeshi-American Community Council
• Just Food
• Garifuna Coalition USA Inc

###