Carroll Bell, the owner of the Coffee Pot restaurant at the southern gateway to Roanoke, is grappling with a $1,000 fine for not meeting the state's mandated food-to-beverage sales ratio. After 47 years of running the establishment, Bell finds himself in an unprecedented predicament, struggling to maintain the required 45% food-to-55% drinks ratio. A bill proposing to lower this ratio to 35% was rejected by the General Assembly, leaving Bell and other restaurateurs facing significant financial hurdles exacerbated by rising food, labor, and utility costs. Despite increased competition from microbreweries, wineries, and distilleries that are not subject to the same food ratio regulations, Bell remains hopeful about regaining compliance. He calls on the local community to support the Coffee Pot by dining there, citing his efforts to assist the public during the COVID-19 pandemic by selling essential items at cost. Bell's situation underscores the broader challenges facing the restaurant industry and the critical role community support plays in its survival.
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