Welcome from CRA Chairman

CRA Members,

Growing up, I watched firsthand as my parents slowly transformed a small tavern in Manchester – one that originally served only beer! – into a thriving restaurant with great food, live music, and a committed base of customers. Now in our 42nd year of business, the Main Pub is still thriving as the longest running family-owned restaurant in Manchester, and it’s become a staple of our local community and region.

It hasn’t always been easy. Like many of you, I’m a single-location restaurant owner and operator, and I know that when times get tough my options for keeping my business afloat can feel slim. Never has that been truer that in the past two years as we’ve navigated the pandemic and the many challenges and changes that came along with it. But here’s something I’ve learned: the best way to survive the tough times and then thrive in the good times is to stick together as an industry, to lift one another up, and to make sure we all have the best tools at our disposal to benefit our businesses, our employees, and our customers.

That’s why I’m so proud to now be serving as Chairman of the Connecticut Restaurant Association. The CRA has been an invaluable resource to me in both good times and bad – it’s a touchstone that reminds me I am part of a great community of Connecticut restaurateurs, and that together we can do great things.

While I know this has been a difficult couple of years for us all, I am proud to be a part of an organization that supports its members by engaging with stakeholders, impacting legislation at the State Capitol, and building lasting relationships that help give everyone a chance at success. This year, we are continuing to harness our collective voice to communicate our importance to Connecticut’s economy. I look forward to partnering with you in that effort, and I know that our unparalleled staff and Board of Directors at CRA will continue delivering the highest level of service and support to our members.

I hope you find the information in this membership packet helpful. Thank you for all that you do.

Keith Beaulieu

Owner of The Main Pub (Manchester, CT)