Saturday night at Joeseppi’s Italian Ristorante, you wouldn’t notice how much the global economic crisis has pinched the restaurant business. I had a crowd to squeeze past to reach a speaking engagement for the 75th anniversary of the Tacoma Toastmaster Club No. 13.
Yes, Saturday night still packs ’em in at Joe Stortini’s restaurant. But business in general at Joeseppi’s has dropped about 5 percent so far this year.
And you can’t hide the fact that we Americans – hurt by the economy – don’t eat out as much as we did last year.
Restaurant operators reported a drop in sales for the eighth time in the last 10 months, according to the most recent report from the National Restaurant Association.
“The uncertain economy and rising food costs continue to pose a challenging business environment for restaurant operators,” said Hudson Riehle, the NRA’s senior vice president of research and information services. “A record 31 percent of restaurant operators said the economy is the No. 1 challenge facing their business, while 22 percent identified food costs as their top challenge.”
Some Tacoma restaurateurs have embraced creative, visible survival initiatives to keep the pasta, pizza and suds flowing while they – and we – ride out the economic storm.
Stortini has his Monday Night Takeovers for charitable causes. Pat Nagle and Carole Holder at The Hub will open a 70-person art gallery and catering space this week. Russ Heaton and Dave Shelnut at Doyle’s Public House have reprised their popular “Raise a Pint for Public Radio” fundraiser through Oct. 16.
At Joeseppi’s, four months ago Stortini decided to let schools, churches and nonprofit organizations take over the restaurant in exchange for 25 percent of the profits from 4 to 8 p.m.
“Monday is the slowest day in the restaurant business. But now around here Mondays are like Fridays and Saturdays,” Stortini said.
Joeseppi’s has three conditions: The takeover organization must host, help bus tables and make an honest effort to bring their members and supporters in via an e-mail or phone call campaign.
This week the Tacoma Orthopedic Association raised more than $1,000 toward its work supporting Mary Bridge Children’s Hospital.
How popular has Monday Night Takeover become?
“We’re booked every Monday through next April,” Stortini said. “It’s really a win-win for the nonprofit organizations and us. It’s our way of marketing the restaurant and giving back to the community.”
At The Hub, meanwhile, Thursday night will welcome the opening of a comfortable group space decorated for now with the photographs of Steve Naccarato and the paintings of Shawn Woods.
While many restaurants and other businesses have gone conservative to survive, Holder said she and Nagle, who also own The Harmon Restaurant & Brewery downtown, opted for expansion.
“I’m perpetually optimistic,” Holder said. “We just saw that there are a lot of people who want to have large parties between 10 and 100, so we are just filling that need.”
They took over the lease in September of a vacant, open, exposed-beam space adjacent to the restaurant and will cater groups and private events there from The Hub kitchens.
They already have eight events booked before the opening.
In the bottom floor of same building, Doyle’s Public House started pouring a lot more pints of Guinness Stout starting Monday – and the crowds have followed. That’s when Heaton and Shelnut started their third fall fundraiser for KUOW-FM (94.9), the National Public Radio affiliate in Seattle.
One dollar from every pint of Guinness you drink goes to support the radio station.
“That’s a cause I volunteered for and supported before we had the restaurant,” Heaton said. “It’s the one (promotion) people like to get behind because it doesn’t cost them anything. … The tagline I put behind it is, ‘Doing good by drinking the goods.’”
Heaton has set a 1,000-pint goal. I’ll do my part for public radio. You?
Dan Voelpel: 253-597-8785
dan.voelpel@thenewstribune.com
Joeseppi’s Italian Ristorante
2207 N. Pearl St., Tacoma
Proprietor: Joe Stortini
More: joeseppis.com
The Hub
203 Tacoma Ave S., Tacoma
Proprietors: Pat Nagle, Carole Holder
More: hub.harmonbrewingco.com
Doyle’s Public House
208 Saint Helens Ave., Tacoma
Proprietors: Russ Heaton, Dave Shelnut
More: doylespublichouse.com
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