• May 11, 2009

National Restaurant Association president/CEO Dawn Sweeney has sent a letter to President Obama, thanking him for dining at Arlington, Va., burger restaurant Ray's Hell Burger and for his other recent restaurant visits, reports QSRmagazine.com.

The letter states in part: "During these challenging economic times, your recent and highly visible visits to restaurants with the Vice President and your family are exactly the type of activities that help convey the important role of restaurants in the economy and the importance of all of us doing our part to help support a revitalized economy.

"By dining out, you have helped support some of the 13 million Americans that depend on our industry for their livelihood... When Americans dine out, they are backing an industry that has a $1.5 trillion impact on our economy. For every dollar spent in a restaurant, more than two dollars are generated in supporting industries."--Karlene Lukovitz