One Topic: 10 Facts 12 Franchisee Spotlight

One topic: 10 facts

Restaurant Industry Labor Challenges

1In the first quarter of 2021, restaurants

added 442,000 jobs.

2Through March, employment at eating and drinking

establishments remained 18.8 million jobs below

pre-pandemic levels.

3In March, the median limited-service chain restau-

rant staffed each of its restaurants with about one less employee per location on average than it did in

2019.

4Through April, restaurant employment in 49 states

remained below the February 2020 pre-coronavirus level.

5Sixty-six percent of restaurant owners report that they cannot fill their open positions.

6In March, the average workweek of eating and

drinking place employees increased to 25.9 hours

per week, the highest monthly reading since the data series began in 2006. 7 Average hourly earnings rose for production and nonsupervisory positions at eating and drinking

establishments from $13.89 per hour to $14.57.

8Seventy-six percent of job seekers say that

benefits were “important” or “very important”

to them when considering a new position. Fifty-five percent said they would accept a lower-paying job if it

came with better benefits.

9The top three reasons restaurant workers are leaving their jobs are low wages and tips (76%), COVID-19 safety concerns (55%) and concerns over hospitality and harassment from customers (39%).

10Fifty-seven percent of restaurant operators believe a boost in federal unemployment benefits

is exacerbating the labor shortage.

Steve Grube

Grube Inc.

Year Became a BWW® Franchisee: 2001 Total Number of BWW Locations: 33 Total Number of Employees: 1,400

Grube Inc. is a family business, with Steve Grube and his sons, Mathias and Mitchell, all playing active roles in the business.

How did you and your partner(s)

meet? I began my Buffalo Wild Wings® career with Kornel Miksa, who currently has part ownership of two of the 33 stores today. Kornel has been a great resource and is one of the system’s best operators.

What drew you to the brand? I attended Ohio State University, and there were only two stores nationwide at that time. Sometimes I ate there twice a day. I loved the concept, and wings were only 7 cents on Tuesdays. How could you not love that?

What is your favorite thing about

the brand? BWW is the place to be! It’s really all about the wings, beer and sports, which makes BWWs the best sports bars in the nation.

What other concepts do you own?

A Rusty Taco location in Maumee, Ohio, opened in May 2018.

What are your current top three business goals?

1. Become a $150 million company. 2. Help develop emerging talent as a giveback. (Family inclusive.) 3. Develop another concept.

Describe your best recent business

decision: Acquiring 11 additional stores in northeast Ohio. Seven were acquired in late September 2020 and four additional locations were added in March.

Last year, your company bought several BWW sports bars. Why was it a good time to make that

purchase and grow? Our company vision was to bet on America and believe in the strength of our brand.

What is the best business advice

you have received? My wife, Kelly, encouraged me to leave an executive banking position to pursue my dream. At the time, I owned three BWW locations.

Additionally, I would like to thank fellow franchisees Wray Hutchinson, Brian Carmody and Mark Jones for their leadership and friendship, as they have always been willing to offer advice when called upon.

Describe the biggest industry change since you started:

1. COVID-19 2. Increased competition 3. Wing supply and pricing

Describe your current biggest

challenge as a franchisee: Product shortages and the labor shortage. The wing shortage has been a monumental challenge, yet we have managed it quite well. The labor shortage, which has affected nearly every facet of business, was and still is our No. 1 challenge.

What is your favorite BWW wing

sauce? How can you pick just one? OG, Mild and Caribbean Jerk.

If I weren’t a franchisee, I would

be … a coach of major college basketball! S

Steve Grube, left, with Ohio State University men’s basketball coach Chris Holtmann inside a Buffalo Wild Wings restaurant.