New ‘Michigan Restaurant Promise’ initiative promotes health and safety during COVID-19

By WKTV Staff

A group of 86 Michigan restaurant and bar owners last week announced the launch of “Michigan Restaurant Promise”, a new initiative to ensure the health and safety of their employees, customers and communities during the COVID-19 pandemic.

“COVID-19 has had a significant impact on West Michigan and many businesses — particularly bars and restaurants — have suffered,” Grand Rapids Mayor Rosalynn Bliss said in supplied material. “It’s great to see this group rally together to protect the health and safety of their employees, customers and our community.”

Among the local restaurants and craft breweries involved are Mitten Brewing, Brewery Vivant (parent company of Kentwood’s Broad Leaf Beer) and Long Road Distillery.

“As restaurant owners and managers, we feel a sense of responsibility for the health and well-being of our employees, our guests and the community at large,” Kris Spaulding, owner of Brewery Vivant, said in supplied material. “That’s why we started this initiative — to show our communities we are taking this seriously and are committed to protecting their health and safety.”

There is also a concern about those establishments not as committed as others.

“It’s frustrating to see bars and restaurants not enforcing the health and safety guidelines laid out to slow the spread of COVID-19 in our communities,” Chris Andrus, owner of Mitten Brewing, said in supplied material. “Those establishments threaten to undo the many sacrifices our community and industry have made and undermine the hard work of establishments like mine committed to keeping the public safe.”

The effort could also serve as a model for the state.

“Small businesses are the heart of West Michigan and it’s great to see this group of local restaurant and bar owners be leaders in putting people first,” Hanna Schulze, president of Local First, said in supplied material. “The Michigan Restaurant Promise can serve as a model for other communities to hold their local businesses accountable and encourage them to prioritize the health and wellbeing of their employees and customers above all else.”

Learn more about the initiative by visiting MiRestaurantPromise.com.