Still looking for a reason to attend CRA’s Restaurant Day at the Capitol? Don’t worry, we have you covered:

10. Advocacy – Restaurant Day is CRA’s biggest advocacy event of the year, organized specifically for the California restaurant community to meet with lawmakers. It’s the one day of the year where restaurant owners and operators from all over the state come together to show strength in numbers at the State Capitol and share their stories with legislators.

9. Knowledge – You’ll learn all about the restaurant industry’s most challenging political issues, how the legislative process works, and how the potential outcomes can affect your business.

8. Networking – Restaurant Day at the Capitol attracts restaurateurs from all over the state. Our post-Restaurant Day reception, Night Cap at the Cap, will be the perfect event for you to continue your conversations with elected officials and swap ideas with fellow Restaurant Day attendees.

7. Opportunity – You’ll not only spend the day with fellow restaurant owners and operators from all over the state, you’ll have the chance to be seen and heard among political leaders.

6. Philanthropy – The CRA Foundation will announce the winners of the Faces of Diversity and Restaurant Neighbor awards – honoring restaurateurs who give back to their communities, and are making strides toward achieving the American Dream.

5. The Food – Sacramento is known as America’s Farm-to-Fork Capital and gaining attention from foodies nationwide. You’ll get a taste of what Sacramento has to offer at Night Cap at the Cap, where we spotlight some of CRA’s member restaurants from the region.

4. Inspiration – Between hearing our keynote speaker and celebrating the CRAF award recipients at the morning program, you’re bound to leave the day inspired in some way, shape, or form.

3. Educate – Lawmakers need you to educate them on what it takes to operate a restaurant. They need to see that there are real people behind the issues who are struggling to keep up with California’s growing list of business mandates and regulations.

2. Sacramento’s Downtown Commons (DOCO) – Sacramento has added some major developments over the last few years, including the Golden 1 Arena, the Kimpton Sawyer Hotel, and a number of new restaurants and bars. Restaurant Day activities will keep you busy, but you may be able to squeeze in a quick trip to one of the city’s newest hot spots.

1. Impact – Lawmakers need to hear from YOU, their constituents, before they make decisions on legislative proposals that could significantly impact the industry. By attending Restaurant Day, you’re helping to influence change and make a difference in the restaurant community. 

The California Restaurant Association Lobby Day [Restaurant Day] proves to be a worthwhile event to attend. As a small food business owner, especially one who was not familiar with the restaurant industry, it is an important avenue to educate yourself and to get your voice heard by legislators and fellow restaurateurs and stakeholders. It is also a solid way to network with each other on a professional and personal level. From my first year of going to Lobby Day in 2013, I immediately connected with other members and soon thereafter became a board member for my local chapter. Since then, the experience and learning have been significant. Lobby Day is just one of many offerings the CRA extends to its members to allow us all to make our presence known to the community-at-large.  

— Patricia Perez, Co-Owner and President of Pho Show