Since the pandemic, historic levels of inflation, a never-ending supply-chain meltdown, and petty tariffs have forced the restaurant industry to evolve based on self-preservation. From January to June of this year, Texas accounted for more than 1,000 restaurant closures, leading the nation. DFW ranked third among metro areas, with 240 losses behind New York’s and Chicago’s. Individually, Dallas came in at No. 8 and Fort Worth at 11, based on a report by RestaurantData.com. Fast-food chains and sandwich shops were hit the hardest, and roughly two-thirds of the restaurants that shuttered did not serve alcohol.
That news seems grim, but on a positive note, Texas leads the nation in new restaurant openings — as evidenced by the orange cones and construction sites covering the entire state. That silver lining doesn’t dilute obstacles like high food and labor costs or a lack of disposable income plaguing the public. Being a member of the food and beverage industry is definitely not for the weak-spirited.
Fortunately, the Texas Restaurant Association (TRA) is an organization whose mission is to ease the pain that restaurateurs often face. Being a member comes with access to affordable insurance options for both business and staff and an array of vendor relations, legal advice, and resources, plus an overall sense of community. Led by CEO Dr. Emily Williams Knight, the TRA sends representatives to state and federal government legislative sessions to lobby on behalf of the hospitality industry.
Another invaluable element is that the TRA is a resource that assists in shaping the industry’s future with numerous educational opportunities for students and at-risk youth. Every year, the Tarrant County chapter of the TRA holds Casino Night to raise funds for scholarships for the young men and women who dream of being chefs, restaurant managers, and, maybe one day, owners themselves. The next Casino Night is at the end of this month.
“Casino Night strictly raises funds for the chapter to award scholarships and donates funds back to the restaurant foundation,” said Corey Mobley, Tarrant County TRA director, adding that the fundraiser also allows the chapter to give to local teachers’ classrooms and helps pay for the TRA scholarship tied to the annual Fort Worth Food and Wine Festival.
The restaurant community here is closeknit, and the members truly care about making a positive difference on local kids’ futures.
“Each year,” said TRA Foundation Executive Director Heather Pickett, “the foundation awards scholarships made possible through generous donors and corporate partners. This year, we awarded approximately $45,000 in foundation scholarships to students pursuing culinary arts, hospitality, or restaurant management degrees after high school.”
Courtesy TRA
Texas ProStart, the TRA’s “flagship workforce development program,” serves more than 34,000 high school students in approximately 265 Texas high schools, Pickett said, explaining that the students take culinary arts and restaurant management courses through their Career & Technical Education (CTE) programs with the curriculum by the National Restaurant Association Educational Foundation.
The TRA also offers the Texas Restaurant & Foodservice Management (TRFM) CTSO, the hospitality Career and Technical Student Organization which provides “leadership development, competitions, service opportunities, and career-readiness experiences.”
Plus, the Texas ProStart Invitational (TPSI) is the foundation’s annual statewide culinary and restaurant-management competition. This year, Pickett said, more than 850 students participated, and colleges and universities from across the country awarded more than $3.1 million in scholarship monies.
Lastly, the ProStart Educator Training Conference (PETC) is professional development for culinary educators to “strengthen classroom instruction and ultimately improve student outcomes.”
The TRA, Pickett added, prepares students for “careers and connects them with the industry through guest chefs, mentors, competitions, restaurant tours, networking, internships, job fairs, and our restaurant members. Many students obtain internships and jobs through those relationships, but they are hired directly by employers rather than through the foundation. In short, what we do is build the pipeline.”
The local TRA’s Casino Night, with lots of grub, booze, and gambling, will take place in the Stockyards from 6:30pm to 9:30pm on Mon, Aug 31, at Los Vaqueros, owned by TRA board member Vicki Cisneros. Tickets are $75 dollars and can be purchased via TXRestaurant.org or at the door. All tickets include food and drink.
Tarrant County Texas Restaurant Association’s Casino Night
6:30pm-9:30pm Mon, Aug 31, at Los Vaqueros, 1513 Rodeo Plz, Fort Worth. $75. 817- 624-1511.
