The new organization, spearheaded by Bipin Patel, aims to address rising food costs, labor regulations, commercial lease pressures, and other challenges facing independent and franchise restaurant owners.
Our Bureau
Edison, NJ
Prominent Restaurant leaders gathered at the Moghul Banquet Hall in Edison, New Jersey, on Wednesday (October 28) to officially launch the Asian American Restaurant Owners Association (AAROA), an organization aimed at representing and protecting independent restaurateurs and franchise owners. Organized on just two weeks’ notice, the inaugural convention brought together more than 100 franchise owners, independent restaurateurs, and restaurant leaders to build a unified advocacy platform for the restaurant industry.
AAROA is spearheaded by Bipin Patel, founding president of the Asian American Retailers Association (AARA), which recently marked 20 years of nationwide advocacy representing convenience store, fuel station, and beverage retail owners on legislative, tax, and supply-chain equity issues.Drawing on his own experience as a multi-unit franchisee of brands including Buffalo Wild Wings, Dave’s Hot Chicken, and Blaze Pizza, Patel recognized that the restaurant and food-service industry faced specific challenges requiring collective bargaining and legislative action.
To anchor the initiative, Patel partnered with several leading Restaurant figures, including Kamal Arora, entrepreneur, caterer, and fine-dining restaurateur; Anand Patel, multi-unit owner of national brands including Dunkin’ and Taco Bell; Hemang Champaneria, multi-unit owner of Dunkin’ and Taco Bell; Bhavesh Patel, multi-unit owner of Burger King and Bikanerwala; and Dinesh Goswami, a multi-unit franchise operator.
In his welcome address at the meeting, Patel said the planning for the event had started about a year ago, during which he held several meetings with fellow restaurant owners before setting a date for the launch. “Running a restaurant today is much more difficult than it was a few years ago,” he said, pointing to rising rents, common area maintenance (CAM) charges, property taxes, labor costs, insurance premiums and food and beverage expenses.
Patel noted that rents and CAM charges, along with property taxes, continued to increase by 5–6% annually, while New Jersey’s minimum wage was scheduled to rise to $16.48 per hour next January. Insurance premiums were also increasing by double digits every year. The association would go beyond providing a platform for restaurant owners to connect, share experiences, and build relationships. As a trade organization, it would focus on common business challenges, advocacy on issues affecting the industry, and building a stronger restaurant community, he added.
Patel also clarified that AAROA would remain a professional trade organization focused on business-related matters and would not get involved in cultural or religious activities or endorse individual events. “That is what AAROA stands for: Stronger together. A brighter future. Together, we grow,” he said.
The leadership also announced the formation of specialized working committees to address key industry priorities, including: government affairs and legislative advocacy, legal and compliance advisory, group purchasing and vendor relations and operations and reputation management. These committees will focus on engaging state and federal lawmakers on tax relief, fair commercial leasing frameworks, and balanced labor regulations; providing compliance resources to help prevent frivolous employment litigation and safeguard labor standards; leveraging bulk purchasing power to lower ingredient, equipment, and operating costs; and assisting restaurant operators in modernizing guest experience strategies and navigating online review platforms.
AAROA has invited Asian American restaurant owners, multi-unit franchisees, and allied Restaurant professionals to join the association as it expands its regional footprint and seeks to establish a national standard for restaurant advocacy.
The Asian American Restaurant Owners Association is a non-profit trade association dedicated to representing, educating, and advocating for independent restaurant operators and multi-unit franchisees across New Jersey, New York and other parts of the country.