August 28, 2020

The Honorable Governor Kim Reynolds

Office of the Governor
Iowa State Capitol
1007 East Grand Avenue
Des Moines, IA 50319

Dear Governor Reynolds,

We are writing on behalf of Iowa’s restaurant and bar industry in reference to the Governor’s August 27, 2020
Proclamation which closes bars, breweries and other drinking establishments; as well as limits alcohol service
hours for restaurants in six counties. As an industry we have worked hard to collaborate and cooperate with the
mandates in previous proclamations including supporting enforcement steps and penalties for hospitality
businesses that did not comply with required mitigation strategies. Hospitality was the only industry that has
called for enforcement as the way to protect itself as we navigate together the current pandemic.

We were confident our willingness to work with the Governor’s Office, Iowa ABD, and Iowa Department of
Inspections and Appeals exhibited how strongly we feel about the safety of our employees and patrons. We
agreed that the operators in our industry unwilling to comply with mandates should face significant
consequences. We did not want a few non-compliant outliers to jeopardize the livelihoods of the vast majority
of operators who were not only following the mandates, but have been going above and beyond, to keep people
safe.

This six county shut down impacts 273 bars, 29 Iowa breweries, 16 Iowa wineries, 4 Iowa distillers, and further
limits the ability of 376 restaurants who serve alcohol as they try to survive what has already been an
exceedingly difficult time.

If there are problem establishments, why weren’t the regulatory tools and enforcement measures already in
place deployed? Why are we once again receiving blanket closures of legal businesses, 99% of whom are
complying with every rule? If contact tracing is showing that a particular bar, in a particular community, is the
source of a COVID outbreak, then why isn’t that business being temporarily closed rather than every drinking
establishment in the county?

Effected drinking establishments, Iowa-based breweries, distilleries, and wineries, as well as restaurants are the
life’s work of their owners. These are family-based businesses who are on the brink of losing everything for
what appears to be an unwillingness to apply current enforcement policies. We have seen the social media
photos of college towns. But, where others see lines of young people standing in line on the street and believe
bars aren’t doing their part, we see lines of people not being let into our establishments because we’re following
social distancing rules and limiting capacities.

Our request is simple, please modify your Proclamation. Use the enforcement measures already in place and
punish those who simply refuse to do the right thing. Allow the others – every type of establishment-- to reopen
under the previously stated guidelines and enforcement measures. These businesses lost St. Patrick’s Day and
Mother’s Day and now sit on the brink of losing a beautiful patio weekend over the Labor Day Holiday. They are
once again sitting on thousands of dollars of food and beverage inventories that are unrecoverable losses. Even
if they are able to sell “to go” food, cocktails and other alcohol, these sales represent a fraction of the on-
premise business they are being forced to give up. What’s more, because receipts-of-sales are being used to
measure what is a bar (contrary to industry norms or other definitions used in code), there are restaurants that
sell $10 cocktails and $8 small plates that will be shut down because the numbers don’t work.

It is time to value this industry at the same level we value others. We employ 155,000 Iowans. One in three find
their first job in our industry. Fully half of the adults in Iowa found employment in a restaurant or bar at some
point in their life. We are more than twice as likely to hire people from the re-entry population and are one of
the largest employers of immigrants in the state. We are asking you take actions to SAVE OUR INDUSTRY. Many
establishments in these six counties cannot survive if they remain closed until September 20th. Sadly, the 1,000
locations we expect to lose statewide by the time all COVID mitigation steps are lifted will likely increase
exponentially if these shutdowns and service limitations remain in place.

Our industry is willing to talk about other options. Some have suggested a proclamation which creates a
temporary increase in the drinking age for on-premise service so the problem demographic, rather than
responsible businesses, are impacted. Most have asked that the enforcement measures we reluctantly agreed
to be fully utilized. All ask for a Hospitality Relief Fund to help us recover the cost of wasted inventories, missed
rents, and lost sales. We need assistance now. Please help us to save our businesses and preserve the role the
hospitality industry plays in the culture and flavor of Iowa we bring to our communities.

We understand this is a difficult time to serve in leadership in our state and that quick decisions must be made
to keep people safe—but it is time to stop laying the blame of COVID spread at the feet of the hospitality
industry. Everyone of us knows someone who has tested positive for COVID. We are saddened by the loss of
life, as well as the loss of our “normal.” However, we face the stark reality that the hospitality industry will
never see normal again if we don’t act fast to preserve these businesses and the jobs that come with them.

Again, we ask that you work with our industry to find solutions that don’t exacerbate the problems brought on
by COVID-19 closures earlier this year. Please support small local business and use the enforcement measures
we worked together to put in place, in lieu of yesterday’s proclamation language.

Respectfully submitted in collaboration with the attached list of members of Iowa’s hospitality industry,

Jessica Dunker
President and CEO
Iowa Restaurant Association
Jeff Duncan Jeff Bruning
Giordano’s Pizza Dan Massouth
West Des Moines Full Court Press
Buzzard Billy’s, El Bait Shop, Fong’s Pizza, Hessen
Amy and Andy Walsh Haus, High Life Lounge, Iowa Taproom, Royal
Mickey’s Irish Pub Mile, The Red Monk, The Chicken, Truman’s KC
Waukee Pizza Tavern, University Library Café
Des Moines, Cedar Rapids, Iowa City
Scott Carlson
Carl Wertzberger
Mike Utley Doug Goettsch
Court Ave. Brewing Co, Gilroy’s, Americana Big Grove Brewery, Pullman Bar & Diner, St
Des Moines and West Des Moines Burch Tavern
Solon, Iowa City

Mike Whalen Tom Baldwin

Heart of America Group Darkside of the Spoon
Iowa Machine Shed, Thunder Bay Grille, 1908 Draught House , Peggy’s Tavern,
Johnny’s Italian Steakhouse, Gramma’s Kitchen, Wellman’s Pub, Shotgun Betty’s , Wellman’s
Checkered Flag, The Republic on Grand, The J Pub & Rooftop, The Irish, Annie’s Irish Pub, Blue
Bar Moon Piano Bar, Blue Toro
Des Moines, West Des Moines, Clive, Altoona, Des Moines, Johnston, West Des Moines
Davenport
Nick Miller
DC's, Iowa City Fieldhouse
Bob Tursi Iowa City
The Latin King
Des Moines Joe McConville
Gusto Pizza, El Guapo, Juniper Moon
RJ Tursi Des Moines, West Des Moines, Waukee
Exile Brewing
Des Moines
Lauren Doll-Sheeder
Doll Distributing
John and Kris Kay Des Moines, Council Bluffs
Go Fish Marina Bar & Grill
Princeton
Bob Franklin
Elray’s Live & Dive
Ben Singh Iowa City
AJ's Ultra Lounge, BNC Fieldhouse, Mickey's
Irish Pub
Ames
Alexis Lundgren Andrew White
Trackside Bar & Grill Sips, Paddy’s Irish Pub, Cy’s Roost, Outlaws,
Peosta Summit, Tip Top Lounge
Ames, Iowa City
Milissa Reynolds
Okoboji Barz, Inc. Shelly & Tim Sikes
Okoboji Bailey’s Pub & Grille
Des Moines
Scott Anderson
Riley Drive Group Robyn Trostel McSheehy
Saints Pub & Patio, Tonic Bar Suzanne Summy
Des Moines, West Des Moines, Waukee Greenbriar Restaurant
Johnston
Ryan Hutchison
Nick Tillinghast Jen Ferrell
Kyle McClain Yesterday's Restaurant
Hello Marjorie, Bell Hop Okoboji
Des Moines
Jason Christensen
Terry Cullen Captain's Getaway
Es Tas Okoboji
Ames
Darian Everding
Cassie Bott President, Des Moines Area Chapter of the
Fireside Winery, Ackerman Winery United States Bartender’s Guild
Morengo, Williamsburg
Darin Beck
Jamison Spores Paramount Barco:
Kenny’s Garage VooDoo Lounge DSM/Cedar Falls, Deringer’s
Waukee Pub Cedar Falls, Stuffed Olive DSM/Cedar Falls
Shags DSM/Cedar Falls
Team at Brothers Bar & Grill Roxxy, DoubleTap Beercade -Cedar Falls
Marc Fortney - Founder
Eric Fortney - Founder Dendra Lee
Tony De Salvo - COO Global Brands Ambassador
Nick Carroll - Regional Operations University Distributors
Anthony Cortese – Marketing
Iowa City Ryan Flattery
300 Craft & Rooftop
Des Moines
Nancy Bird, Executive Director Megan McKay
Nick Lindsley, President Peace Tree Brewing
Iowa City Downtown District Knoxville, Grinnell, Des Moines

Brian Rorris Michael Hoverston

Quinton's Iowa City, Quinton's CR, Quinton's Bartender, Ames
DSM
Gas Lamp, Des Moines Kelsey Seay
Interim Director
Rebekka Reuter Iowa Brewers Guild
The London Underground
Ames Shane Seay
Des Moines
Bill Bryce and Todd Barnes
Sports Column Susan & Jonathan Frantz
Iowa City Fenceline Beer Lab
Huxley
Kevin Wu
Soseki Café, Iowa City Nicole Eilers
Josh Silver, Owner Iowa Wine Growers Association
Nodo Downtown
Iowa City Iowa Wineries in the 6 Counties:
Story
Doug Meek Holyce Nissen, Owner
Pints Prairie Moon
Iowa City Red Barn Wines
Madison County Winery
Leslie Rish
Dumpling Darling Polk
Iowa City Jasper Winery
Cellar at White Oak
Motif LTD dba Bo James Vines to Wines
Leah Cohen
Iowa City Johnson
Cedar Ridge
Sarah & Lynn Pritchard Brick Arch
Table 128 Old Man's Creek
Clive Coral Cellars (they don't have a tasting room so
I did not' include them)
Walker Homestead
Linn Matt Johnson
Deja Vine Barley’s
Winery at Kirkwood Council Bluffs
Glyn Mawr
Lubben Vineyards Kyle Dehmlow
Cherry Meadow Winer Social House, Cedar Falls
Whiskey Road, Cedar Falls
Don & Kathryn Allen Icon Donuts, Waterloo & Cedar Falls
Brick & Iron at the Latitude Greenhouse Kitchen, Waterloo & Cedar Falls
Coralville Little Bigs, Cedar Falls

Peter Kessler Alex Banasik

Goosetown Cafe Down Under Bar & Grill
Iowa City Clive

Bethany DeVries
Kathy Mathiesen
Pam Hawhee
Della Viti
Ames

David & George Etre

The Iowa Chop House, Formosa Asian Cuisine
Iowa City

Jennifer Winder, Senior Associate

Aon Cyber Solutions
Iowa City

Nick Newgard
Second State Brewing
Cedar Falls

Pete McCarthy
Gabes and Wildwood
Iowa City

Todd Millang
RoCA & Johnny’s
Des Moines