Thank you for joining yesterday’s Board of Advisors live virtual conversation with Ray Washburne, co-owner of the M Crowd Restaurant Group and a member of President Trump’s Great American Economic Revival Industry Groups. The conversation with Ray and David Schechter (WFAA) was presented by JLL, and platinum sponsor, McCarthy Building Companies. Read our coverage or watch the complete video below.

Key takeaways included:

• • • Crisis helped the Katy Trail Ice House innovate their business. Patrons won’t see physical menus, but will scan their beverage coaster barcode to access the menu. Payment is also touchless.
    • Washburne said his restaurant team anticipated the virus but not the severity of it. Overnight, they furloughed 1,800 team members and increased their take-out business from 10% to 50%.
    • When asked about the former Dallas Morning News building at 508 Young St., Washburne said the project inspiration is a convention center entertainment district, similar to L.A. Live. The space will include a 130-room boutique hotel, 250 apartments, 2,000-person concert facility, and 1,100-room convention hotel. The project has been affected by the coronavirus; it’s now slated to open in 2023 and construction prices have come down 10% to 12%, he said.

Additional resources:

• • • JLL is providing resources to help you navigate (re)entry in your space and for your people.
    • To learn how McCarthy Building Companies is responding to the coronavirus, visit their website.