City and County Launch Program to Cut Restaurant and Bar Opening Times
Eric Richardson
[Flickr]
Central City Association CEO Carol Schatz answers a question about the new Restaurant & Hospitality Express program.
DOWNTOWN LOS ANGELES — In a move intended to spur new restaurant and bar openings -- along with their associated jobs and tax revenue -- the City and County yesterday joined the Central City Association in announcing a new program that streamlines inspections and permitting.
"Restaurant and Hospitality Express" is intended to cut the typical opening timeline to half of the 12 to 18 months it had previously taken.
That time can mean the difference between success and failure for a new establishment. Steve Springer, General Manager of the First & Hope Downtown Supper Club, told those gathered that he was spending $40,000 per week on staff and expenses while waiting for approval to open.
His establishment is one of eight to go through the new process, which came into effect right as the restaurant was nearing completion. "The change was sweeping and instant," he said, telling of same-day inspections and attentive service.
The impetus for the new program came in December, when the Central City Association organized a meeting with city departments and those who had experienced the pain of the existing process. "I brought in all the departments and then I brought in the restauranteurs," recalled Carol Schatz, CEO of the Central City Association. "I made [the departments] listen to the litany of horrors. And it was horrible."
That wasn't lost on the city officials in the audience.
"Their voices were like an eye opener to the agencies," said Ray Chan, Executive Officer of the city's Department of Building and Safety. Chan spearheaded the departmental coordination needed to get the new program in place.
The result is good news for those who like variety in their dining. Already, 25 more restaurants and bars are enrolled in the new program, which applies citywide.
Ginny Brideau (@ginnycase) on June 04, 2010, at 11:23PM – #1
Great! Now it's time to express our way to a Target and Traders Joes
Rich Alossi on June 05, 2010, at 12:10PM – #2
The extraordinary burden that businesses face in trying to open up in Los Angeles has not been lost on me. Every time a new restaurant opened, I heard the stories the small-business owners would tell about the huge amount of regulations and red tape.
For example, the owner of Tranquility Base was held up for a month (in just this circumstance) because a washer ring on a sink in the kitchen was the wrong type. The inspector had to reschedule the inspection for 30 days later. Meanwhile, the restaurant sat mostly complete, rent being paid on an unusable space.
Then there was the door that was approved by Building & Safety, but the Fire Department thought it was unacceptable, so it had to be replaced... and then NEW inspections had to be rescheduled with every interested department. MORE delays. MORE money spent on rent and employees.
This happens again and again. I get that LA officials want public health and safety to be protected, but how do so many other cities have more business-friendly policies than here? We're doing something wrong here. This is a great first step, but it is ONLY a first step. More needs to be done to draw small businesses into the city. Everyone wants to be here, but no one wants to deal with the hell that is city government.
Harry M on June 07, 2010, at 02:08PM – #3
The city and county is terribly inept, however things are progressing, incrementally, but still there is progress which is always a nice.