How the Tax Cuts and Jobs Act is Helping Restaurants and Coffee Shops

In their own words, American restaurant and coffee shop owners thank the Trump tax cuts for facility expansion, equipment purchases, new job creation and pay raises. And now it is time to make the Trump tax cuts permanent and end the tax on tips in one big beautiful bill.

Please see below. For a longer list of all businesses citing TCJA, please visit ATR.org/List

Sergio’s Cuban Cafe (Miami, Florida) – TCJA helped the restaurant create new jobs, expand its facilities and increase pay:

“I’m a son of Cuban immigrants that fled Cuba in the early 1960s. And thanks to this country, here we are. We-thanks to the strong economy and the tax cuts, our employees have-are benefiting from higher wages, bonuses that they weren’t able to receive before; benefits that they weren’t able to receive before.

We, as a company, currently have two restaurants out of the 25. We’re currently building three more. But thanks to the tax cuts, that expansion is going to accelerate, and hopefully, soon, we’ll be able to create an extra 500 jobs thanks to all. – April 15, 2019 roundtable in Burnsville, Minnesota.

Canal Coffee Shops (Bossier City, Louisiana) — Opened new locations:

“Starting in 2016, Mr. James and his partner, Pricilla Mayfield, opened their anchor store in downtown Kinder – small-town Louisiana. Remarkably, he built his business from the ground up and never took a loan. He went out and was a risk-taker, an entrepreneur, and it worked. He expanded his business to include shops in Oberlin and Shreveport which is our largest metro area in the district,” Johnson explained. “And now, with the implementation of our tax reform and our pro-growth, pro-business policies, Mr. James tells me he plans to open a fourth and now a fifth location in the very near future. This is a great success story, and this is the kind of thing we are seeing all around the country.” — June 21, 2018 Bossier Press article

Don Ramon Restaurant (West Palm Beach Florida) — TCJA helped the restaurant give pay raises and bonuses to employees and helped facilitate the purchase of new coffee machines and refrigerators in order to renovate and expand:

As the owner of Don Ramon Restaurant in West Palm Beach, I know the positive impact of small business better than most.

Because of the recently passed Tax Cuts and Jobs Act, we will pay lower taxes and qualify for higher deductions, leaving Don Ramon in a better position than ever before. We plan to open a takeout window and set up a customer bar, which would generate up to eight new jobs. We will also install new refrigerators and coffee machines, in addition to making much-needed renovations to better serve our customers.

Perhaps most important, all of our key employees received generous bonuses in December, and they will also see pay increases in the coming weeks. We take great pride in rewarding our workers, and the new tax code makes it much easier to do so. — Feb. 3, 2018 Palm Beach Post op-ed excerpt

Six Hundred Downtown Pizza Restaurant (Bellefontaine, Ohio) – Facilities expansion and new employee benefits:

“Brittany, where’s the pizza?” Trump asked Saxton. She said she’d been able to use the tax cuts to open a second location and provide health benefits to some managers and thanked Trump at the podium. – April 12, 2018 WTOP article excerpt

Smokey Row Coffee Shops (Des Moines, Iowa) — Company expansion:

When small business owners anticipated how much they would save in taxes under the federal Tax Cuts and Jobs Act, many reinvested those savings in their businesses and their employees.

Butch Hayes, of Smokey Row Coffee Shops, is planning to open two new stores. — June 3, 2019 Des Moines Register

Market Garden Brewery and Bar Cento (Cleveland, Ohio) – The tax cuts allowed the bar to add new jobs and invest more in their facility:

Sam McNulty, co-founder of multiple Cleveland brewery/restaurants including Market Garden Brewery and Bar Cento, credited the tax break with helping his operations expand at an accelerated rate, “which in our case meant several million dollars of investment in our facility as well as the creation of a large number of full-time positions.” – Dec. 17, 2018 Crains Cleveland article.

Coal River Coffee Company (St. Albans, West Virginia) – Investment in employees, business expansion and investment in community:

Michael Ervin, founder of Coal River Coffee Company in St. Albans, West Virginia, told the panel that his five-year-old business has benefited from the 2017 tax code changes, particularly the temporary income deductions for sole proprietorships, partnerships and S-corporations.

“After the passage of the Tax Cuts and Jobs Act, LLCs and other pass-through businesses like mine were able to benefit from the newly minted Small Business Deduction, also known as the 199(a) deduction. This provision has allowed me to deduct up to 20% of my business income, which has let me invest in my business, my employees, and my community,” said Ervin, who employs roughly a dozen people.

Ervin also emphasized the importance of making TCJA permanent:

If Congress does not extend the special deduction or make it permanent, Ervin told lawmakers that he will face a “significant tax hike” and be at a disadvantage compared to nearby large businesses.

“Down the street from my location is a larger competitor, Tim Hortons. In two years, if my taxes go up, the corporate rate will remain 21%. Tim Hortons will be paying a 21% federal rate and a 6.5% state corporate rate for a total combined rate of 27.5%, while my total combined rate will be closer to 45%. This disparity will make it extremely difficult for me to compete,” Ervin told lawmakers.

Rep. Lloyd Smucker (PA-11): “Mr. Ervin, I know you mentioned this, but could you expand on how a 43.4 percent tax rate would potentially impact your business if we do not make 199A permanent?”

“Simply put: ultimately, a ‘Closed’ sign would go up in my window, and not only in my window, but on the windows of most of the other businesses on my street if we had to pay that.” — Michael Ervin, April 2024 House Committee on Ways and Means Hearing

sweetFrog Frozen Yogurt (Richmond, Virginia) — New stores added:

I can certainly speak for my business, which has never seen better days. In large part due to the federal tax overhaul, sweetFrog Frozen Yogurt is growing exponentially — adding new stores and serving countless new customers.

In 2009, sweetFrog opened its first store in Richmond. Less than a decade later, we now have more than 350 locations worldwide. By the end of the year, we expect to have more than 400 open locations.

During the first quarter of 2018, sweetFrog franchise owners opened new locations in states including Maryland, Tennessee and Virginia, so it’s undeniable that federal tax cuts had a positive effect. — Sept. 22, 2018 The Virginian-Pilot column excerpt

Dunkin’ Donuts – New locations and new jobs:

Dunkin’ Brands Group believes that it can double the number of its Dunkin’ restaurant locations in the U.S. in the coming years. “Earlier this year we announced that we would be investing approximately $100 million into Dunkin’ U.S., a substantial amount of which will be in equipment to support our multi-year plan to expand our beverage portfolio beyond traditional drip coffee, including new espresso equipment,” CFO Kate Jaspon said. “We, along with our franchisees, who are significantly investing in this new program, are excited to introduce the new Dunkin’ espresso to America in the fourth quarter.”

All told, operating income increased 6% year over year to $111.6 million. Net income – which was beneficially impacted by certain tax-related items and a lower effective tax rate resulting from tax reform — jumped 60.5% to $66.1 million. — October 28, 2018 The Motley Fool

San Tan Brewing (Chandler, Arizona) – The Tax Cuts and Jobs Act help the company expand into distilled spirits:

Anthony Canecchia owns San Tan Brewing, a company that produces large quantities of beer and a small amount of distilled spirits.

Canecchia and his team had been experimenting with spirits for a while before they put them on the market. In 2017, considering the tax cut, it seemed like a natural time to start production, he says. San Tan Distilling started selling its spirits, such as Saint Anne’s vodka and Sacred Stave whiskey and bourbon, in 2018. – Dec. 20, 2019 The Arizona Republic article

Red Leg Brewing Company (Colorado Springs, Colorado) – The local brewery was able to use money saved because of the Tax Cuts And Jobs Act and put it towards hiring more people, health insurance for employees, 401(k) contributions for employees, and for production growth:

In a matter of days, Red Leg Brewing Company will tap into its next chapter.

The company announced this week it will break ground on an $8 million expansion project Friday along Garden of the Gods Road.

Todd Baldwin, president and founder of Red Leg, told News 5 the move will enable his company to increase its beer output from 2,500 barrels to 10,000.

“Our goal was always to be the craft beer of the military, to be on every military base in the world, and this new facility’s going to allow us to do that,” Baldwin said.

Red Leg’s growth is not only tied to the product and innovative ideals. As a whole, craft brewers have also capitalized on an excise tax break included in President Trump’s 2017 tax cuts, reducing what they pay the government for every barrel produced.

That relief allowed brewers to use the money elsewhere. At Red Leg, Baldwin said it paid for production growth, improvements in quality assurance and manpower.

“The last two years, we’ve invested more in now only our people here, but we were able to start health insurance and a 401(k) this year for our employees, which is super cool. And we were able to bring on more employees,” Baldwin said. – Dec. 10, 2019 NBC Southern Colorado.

Thomas Hooker Brewery (Bloomfield, Connecticut) – The brewery used savings from the tax cut to expand the business and create new jobs:

The tax credit for small scale alcohol producers was initially part of the 2017 Trump tax cut. It’s been extended in the bipartisan federal budget passed by Congress last month. Blumenthal says he opposed Trump’s tax cuts to big business, but this particular tax cut is for small businesses and is a job creator.

“These craft breweries put the savings back into their businesses. They create jobs. They produce more beer. They meet demand. And they provide good value.”

Blumenthal spoke at Thomas Hooker Brewery in Bloomfield. Brewery owner Curt Cameron agrees that he’s putting 100% of his tax cut back into his business, “in our case a brand-new pizza kitchen, which is an offshoot of our existing business. It will create at least seven jobs immediately.”

If the tax break had not been extended, craft breweries like Thomas Hooker would have faced a federal excise tax increase of 400% this year. – Dec. 31, 2019 WSHU article.

Right Proper Brewing Company (Washington, D.C.) — New job creation:

At Right Proper Brewing Company in Washington, D.C., the tax cut saved the company more than $13,000. The brewery produces roughly 600 barrels annually at its restaurant and another 3,200 barrels at its production house in Northeast D.C., which opened in December 2015, co-owner Leah Cheston said.

With the rate of $3.50 per barrel, the reduced federal excise taxes have allowed Cheston to keep prices at Right Proper’s brewpub low, especially when compared with other restaurants in the area.

“It’s prevented us from having to raise prices because everything increases constantly,” she said. “To get that break is great. As a small business, every little bit counts.”

In addition to keeping its prices the same at its restaurant, Right Proper was able to boost the hours of one employee to full time and hire another part-time worker. — Sept. 26, 2019 Washington Examiner article

Biscayne Bay Craft Brewery (Miami, Florida) – New job creation and new equipment purchases:

Consider the story of Jose Mallea, owner of Biscayne Bay Craft Brewery, who participated in President Trump’s event. The tax cuts have allowed him to purchase $100,000 more in equipment and hire two new employees. – April 29, 2018 Tallahassee Democrat article excerpt

Old Sistrunk Distillery (Fort Lauderdale, Florida) — Rapper Flo Rida is opening a vodka distillery in an Opportunity Zone created by the Tax Cuts and Jobs Act:

It’s only fitting for rapper Flo Rida to build his new vodka distillery in Florida.

The 40-year-old multiplatinum artist is going beyond the music charts as the co-owner and brand ambassador of Old Sistrunk Distillery, according to a Tuesday report from the South Florida Sun-Sentinel. The 13,000-square-foot venue is set to open either in late 2020 or early 2021 in one of Fort Lauderdale’s minority neighborhoods.

Old Sistrunk Distillery will pour Victor George Vodka, a brand co-owned by music exec turned entrepreneur Victor G. Harvey. Flo Rida will serve as an equity partner and brand ambassador for the company, which is hyper-focused on distilling the popular Russian spirit.

“I have known Mr. Harvey for years and I’ve seen his grind, hard work and enthusiasm in building his brand,” Flo Rida said in a press statement. He added that he looks forward to “developing new products through the construction of a distillery in historic Sistrunk and empowering the community.”

In November, Harvey paid $75,000 for a 6,306-square-foot lot in Sistrunk, according to real estate news company The Real Deal. The property is considered an “Opportunity Zone,” which means any development could qualify for potential tax benefits such as deferred federal taxes on capital gains until 2026 because the federal government views investment in low-income areas as a positive.

“Opportunity zones are an economic development tool—that is, they are designed to spur economic development and job creation in distressed communities,” the IRS has written on the matter.

Harvey appears to be in agreement with the economic decision. Sistrunk is Fort Lauderdale’s oldest African American community and the median income in the very area the distillery is being built is $36,372, according to the U.S. Census Bureau, which is significantly less than Fort Lauderdale’s overall median income of $55,269.

“What we are building in the Sistrunk community is exactly what the area needs,” Harvey said in a press release. “A place to dine, drink, and socialize without having to leave the area.”

The three-story distillery will be located at 1012 Sistrunk Blvd. and will include a tasting room, restaurant, lounge, cigar and wine bar. — January 23, 2020 Yahoo Finance article

Pig Minds (Machesney Park, Illinois) – New job creation:

One way the brewery was able to expand is with a little help saved from the Federal Excise Tax (FET) rate. The Illinois Craft Brewers Guild says since 2017, the tax break has saved breweries money by lowering the cost of barrels from $7 each to $3.50 each. – Dec. 5, 2019 WREX article.

The Mitten Brewing Company (Grand Rapids, Michigan) — With help from the Tax Cuts and Jobs Act, the Michigan Brewery was able to produce new beer, perform new research, hire new employees, give employees pay raises and bonuses:

“It literally put money back into our pockets that we were spending before. We had been producing a bunch of new beers that we have been able to research and develop, and we’ve retained key employees, by giving them bonuses, raises, bringing in new employees,” said Max Trierweiler, co-owner of The Mitten Brewing Company.” — Oct. 7, 2019 WZZM13 article

Iron Fish Distillery (Thompsonville, Michigan) – Because of the Tax Cuts And Jobs Act, the owner was able to create new full time jobs and invest in the company:

“For us this has been a game changer. This tax incentive, this tax decrease really came right at a time when we needed to take some risks, and invest in the business and hire people and so it was, I think, as intended, worked here at Iron Fish,” said Anderson. – Dec. 17, 2019 9&10 News article.

Whiskey Alley (Aiken, South Carolina) – Expanding business operations:

Norman Dunagan, owner of Whiskey Alley restaurant and Dumpster Depot in Aiken, announced they are expanding as well. – February 21, 2018 The Lexington Ledger article excerpt

Coal River Coffee Company (St. Albans, West Virginia) – Investment in employees, business expansion and investment in community:

Ervin also emphasized the importance of making TCJA permanent:

Rep. Lloyd Smucker (PA-11): “Mr. Ervin, I know you mentioned this, but could you expand on how a 43.4 percent tax rate would potentially impact your business if we do not make 199A permanent?”

Taco John’s — All full-time and part-time crew members received a $200 after-tax bonus; Franchisee support center employees received $1,000 bonuses; increased charitable donations:

Taco John’s International, Inc. announced today that in response to the 2018 Tax Cut and Jobs Act, the company gave part of its projected tax savings to its restaurant crews, general managers, corporate staff and CORE (Children of Restaurant Employees).

On Friday, Feb. 23, Taco John’s International, Inc.’s employees received a one-time bonus, as follows:

Every restaurant crew member – full-time and part-time – received $200 (after taxes);
General managers and employees at the Taco John’s Franchisee Support Center in Cheyenne received $1,000 each; and,
The Executive Council of Taco John’s International, Inc. (Vice Presidents and above) donated their $1,000 bonuses (a total of $10,000) to CORE, a national not-for-profit organization that grants support to children of food and beverage service employees who are navigating life-altering circumstances.

“At Taco John’s International, our team is our family, so sharing the financial benefits that were a result of the recent tax reform legislation only makes sense,” said Jim Creel, CEO of Taco John’s International, Inc. “We encourage other restaurant brands to follow our example and give a portion of their savings to the people that are at the heart of what we do and to great organizations like CORE that support our crew. One hundred percent of CORE’s funds directly benefit children of restaurant employees who have been afflicted with life-threating conditions.”

“We are so grateful to the Taco John’s team for their generous donation to our CORE family members,” said Lauren LaViola, executive director of CORE. “Donations like theirs help us provide for our food and beverage service families experiencing loss, illness and other life-changing circumstances, and help us get closer to our goal of helping even more families across all 50 states in 2018.”

The total amount that Taco John’s International, Inc. gave exceeded $150,000.00. – Feb. 28, 2018 Taco John’s International, Inc. press release

Darden Restaurants (Orlando, Florida) – workforce investments:

Olive Garden owner Darden Restaurants on Monday said it would reinvest $20 million in tax savings this year back into its workforce.

The Orlando, Fla.-based casual-dining operator said that tax reform would lower its effective tax rate by 600 basis points in its current fiscal year, due to changes made under the Tax Cuts and Jobs Act passed in December.

“One of the best investments we can make is in our people,” Darden CEO Gene Lee said in a statement. “This investment will strengthen one of our most important competitive advantages.” – March 15, 2019 Restaurant Business Online article excerpts

Chipotle Mexican Grill – Bonuses ranging from $250 to $1,000; increased employee benefits; $50 million investment in existing restaurants:

With regard to the impact of the Tax Cuts and Jobs Act, Jack Hartung, Chief Financial Officer, said, “We’re pleased that the lower income tax rate from the tax law change will result in savings of approximately $40 to $50 million in 2018. We plan to invest more than one-third of these tax savings in our people, including by making all of our restaurant managers and crew eligible for a one-time cash bonus, awarding one-time stock bonuses to a broad group of staff employees, and enhancing a number of other benefits such as parental leave and short term disability, all to help position Chipotle as the employer of choice in the restaurant industry. We’re excited to share further details about these programs in the coming days.” – Feb. 6, 2018 Chipotle Mexican Grill statement excerpt

McDonald’s – Increased tuition investments which will provide educational program access for 400,000 U.S. employees. $2,500 per year (up from $700) for crew working 15 hours a week, $3,000 (up from $1,050) for managers, and more:

McDonald’s Corporation today announced it will allocate $150 million over five years to its global Archways to Opportunity education program. This investment will provide almost 400,000 U.S. restaurant employees with accessibility to the program as the company will also lower eligibility requirements from nine months to 90 days of employment and drop weekly shift minimums from 20 hours to 15 hours. Additionally, McDonald’s will also extend some education benefits to restaurant employees’ family members. These enhancements underscore McDonald’s and its independent franchisees’ commitment to providing jobs that fit around the lives of restaurant employees so they may pursue their education and career ambitions.

The Archways to Opportunity program provides eligible U.S. employees an opportunity to earn a high school diploma, receive upfront college tuition assistance, access free education advising services and learn English as a second language.

“Our commitment to education reinforces our ongoing support of the people who play a crucial role in our journey to build a better McDonald’s,” said Steve Easterbrook, McDonald’s President and CEO. “By offering restaurant employees more opportunities to further their education and pursue their career aspirations, we are helping them find their full potential, whether that’s at McDonald’s or elsewhere.”

Accelerated by changes in the U.S. tax law, McDonald’s increased investment in the Archways to Opportunity Program includes:

Increased Tuition Investment:
- Crew: Eligible crew will have access to $2,500/year, up from $700/year.
- Managers: Eligible Managers will have access to $3,000/year, up from $1,050.
- Participants have a choice for how they apply this funding – whether it be to a community college, four year university or trade school. There is no lifetime cap on tuition assistance – restaurant employees will be able to pursue their education and career passions at their own pace. The new tuition assistance is effective May 1, 2018 and retroactive to January 1, 2018.
Lowered Eligibility Requirements: Increase access to the program by lowering eligibility requirements from nine months to 90 days of employment. In addition, dropping from 20 hours minimum to 15 hours minimum (roughly two full time shifts) per week to enable restaurant employees more time to focus on studies.
Extended Services to Families: Extension of Career Online High School and College Advisory services to restaurant employees’ family members through existing educational partners Cengage and Council for Adult and Experiential Learning (CAEL).
Additional Resources: Career exploration resources for eligible restaurant employees to be available later this year.
Creation of an International Education Fund: Grants to provide local initiatives and incentives in global markets to further education advancement programs.

“Since its inception, Archways to Opportunity was meant to match the ambition and drive of restaurant crew with the means and network to help them find success on their own terms,” said David Fairhurst, McDonald’s Chief People Officer. “By tripling tuition assistance, adding education benefits for family members and lowering eligibility requirements to the equivalent of a summer job, we are sending a signal that if you come work at your local McDonald’s, we’ll invest in your future.”

After launching in the U.S. in 2015, Archways to Opportunity has increased access to education for over 24,000 people and awarded over $21 million in high school and college tuition assistance. Graduates have received college degrees in Business Administration, Human Resources, Communications, Accounting, Microbiology and more. – March 29, 2018 McDonald’s Corporation press release

Starbucks Coffee Company (Headquarters in Seattle, Washington and 757 store locations in Washington) – $500 stock grants for all Starbucks retail employees, $2,000 stock grants for store managers, and varying plant and support center employee stock grants, totaling more than $100 million in stock grants; 8,000 new retail jobs and 500 new manufacturing jobs; an additional wage increase this year, totaling approximately $120 million in wage increases, increased sick time benefits and parental leave:

“Starbucks pays above the minimum wage in all states across the country. In April, all eligible U.S. hourly and salaried partners will receive a second wage increase in addition to the annual increases that they have already received this fiscal year. This will include an investment of approximately $120 million in wage increases that will be allocated based on regional cost of living and laws that vary from state to state.

On April 16, we will provide an additional 2018 stock grant for all eligible full-time, part-time, hourly and salaried U.S. partners across our stores, plants and support centers, who have been active as of Jan. 1, 2018. All Starbucks retail partners will receive at least a $500 grant, store managers will each receive $2000 grant and plant and support center partner (non-retail) grants will vary depending on annualized salary or level. This investment alone is valued at more than $100 million.

A new Partner and Family Sick Time benefit will be available to all eligible U.S. partners, which will allow partners to accrue paid sick time based on hours worked and then use them if they or a family member needs care. When this benefit goes into effect this year, Sick Time will accrue at a rate of one hour for every 30 hours worked, thus a partner working 23 hours a week can expect to accrue approximately five days of sick time benefit over the course of one year.

Starbucks has also reaffirmed their commitment to create more than 8,000 new part-time and full-time retail jobs and an additional 500 manufacturing jobs in its Augusta, Georgia soluble coffee plant.

For store partners, Starbucks has also expanded their parental leave policy to include all non-birth parents with up to 6 weeks of paid leave when welcoming a new child.” —Jan. 24, 2018 Starbucks Coffee Company press release excerpt