Welcome June In Cobble Hill

January 28, 2015 by Leave a Comment

Attention Cobble Hill residents, there’s a new wine bar in town! June opened last week in the space that used to house the Van Horn Sandwich Shop. The space, which had been vacant for quite some time, was redesigned and redone by the design team ‘hOme,’ and now has a 1920’s Parisian vintage look and feel. Tom Kearney is the new co-owner, who directs the menu at The Farm on Adderley. Kearney opened June last week with the partner at Rucola and Fizcarraldo, Henry Rich.

Kearney states, “I wanted to do a wine bar that wasn’t just charcuterie and cheeses.” The small plates menu includes Tokyo turnips, apple brioche and pork meatballs with nigella seeds and polenta. The extensive wine list was put together by Nick Gorevik with glasses starting at $8 and some bottles that go above $100. The bar will also be hosting events with wine producers for guests who would like to learn more about wine. For the time being June is open only in the evenings, but come spring Kearney is hoping and expecting to expand the hours; this will also mark the opening of the restaurant’s backyard area!

June is at 231 Court Street and can be reached at 917- 909-0434. Check them out here!

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2015 Restaurant Industry Forecast

January 28, 2015 by Leave a Comment

The National Restaurant Association has forecasted total restaurant industry sales of $709.2 billion for 2015. This is a 3.5 percent increase over 2014. According to the NRA, 2015 will also be the 16th consecutive year where employment in the industry will be accelerated compared to overall employment growth.  14 million individuals will be employed in the industry this year as the second-largest private sector employer, which represents about 10 percent of the total workforce in the nation.

NRA President and CEO Dawn Sweeney recently stated in a press release,”Our nation’s restaurants continue to be an essential part of Americans’ daily lives and play a vital role in every community across the country; although operators will continue to face a range of complex challenges in 2015, the restaurant and foodservice industry remains a fundamental driver of the nation’s economy, while providing valuable careers and opportunities to 14 million Americans.”

Below are a few opportunities and challenges for 2015 as seen by the National Restaurant Association:

  • Operators will continue to face challenges including food costs, building sales volume, the economy and recruiting and retaining employees.
  • Average wholesale food prices jumped more than 5 percent in 2014, which represented the fifth consecutive annual increase. During the last five years, average wholesale food prices rose roughly 25 percent. Operators can expect to get pricing relief on several of the major commodities in 2015, including dairy and pork.
  • With the economy steadily improving and the jobless rate decreasing, restaurant operators are finding that the competition for employees is intensifying.
  • Labor costs will remain a concern in 2015. Challenges with Affordable Care Act implementation and minimum wage increases have made a significant impact on restaurant bottom lines, as typically one-third of restaurant sales is spent on labor.
  • Consumers continue to have substantial pent-up demand for restaurant services: 38 percent of consumers say they are not eating on the premises of restaurants as frequently as they would like; 41 percent say they are not purchasing takeout or delivery as often as they would like.

Overall, the NRA 2015 forecast has a positive outlook. To read more about the challenges, opportunities, consumer trends and workforce outlook, click here.

Filed Under: Global Market Buzz Tagged With: