MISSION

The Lawrence Restaurant Association (LRA) is an assembly of business owners, chefs and food industry professionals who work together for the benefit of our industry in Douglas County, KS. LRA aims to support small businesses, hospitality industry workers, our community, the local economy and the environment through advocacy, information sharing and programming.

Laura Klein // President // Mass. Street Fish House

Codi Bates // Vice President // Bon Bon, The Burger Stand, The Cider Gallery, Taco Zone

K. Meisel // Treasurer // Free State Financial Group, Leeway Enterprises

Rob Zernickow // Secretary // Rudy’s Pizzeria

Emily Peterson // Past President

Laura Wagner // Member // Sunflower Cafe + Bar

Regan Lehman Pillar // Member // Culinaria

Will Soo // Member // Lucky Seb’s Dumpling Bar

Dave Leff // Member // Free State Brewing Company

OUR BOARD

LRA in the Community

Our hospitality and service extends beyond our shops – here’s what we’re doing in the community.

Person handing a plate of food to another at a dining table with glasses and a vase with flowers.
A heart-shaped frame made from a green, textured gourd with white spots, placed on a wooden surface.
Seven brown paper lunch bags lined up on a table with two apples, one green and one red, in front of them.

Hospitality Workers Relief Fund

The fund is dedicated to hospitality workers in our community, with a mission to provide stability and support in times of need. We partner with community organizations that provide critical services, including childcare, whole health and dental care, counseling, utility and rent assistance.

CARES Grant Funding

LRA received over $2 million to support locally owned and operated Hospitality businesses that were negatively impacted by COVID-19. The funds provided reimbursement for necessary expenditures to respond to the public health emergency, including PPE, sanitation, public health measures, service adjustments and/or business interruption related expenses.

School Lunch Program

At the onset of the pandemic, this was an amazing collaboration to fund, organize, make and distribute meals. The program ended up serving 7 days a week, 2,500 meals per day. In total, over 96,000 meals were served.