UPDATE: Resources are being added to this list and some removed in an effort to keep the information relevant and timely.
The COVID-19 crisis has cratered the restaurant industry and left those whose profession and livelihood are dependent idled and in need for short term planning on what’s next.
My favorite restauranteurs invoke strong feelings of pride and admiration for the leadership they are showing whether open or closed. Some have turned their storage into food banks for their employees and others have sufficient cash reserves to assist their more vulnerable team members where they can. There are organizations and individuals as well creating resources to help hospitality professionals adapt.
I like the initiative the Beverage Trade Network and Sommeliers Choice Awards is taking to create a matching engine between sommeliers and the job opportunities that exist off-premise with retailers as well as distributors and importers.
If you know of sommeliers in critical financial need, please direct them to the website.
If you’re a sommelier or wine director or an on-premise wine industry professional whose job is at risk or is lost due to the ongoing situation, you can benefit by this free service and reach new potential employers.
Resources for Restaurant Business Owners
Atlanta COVID-19 Small Business Relief Fund
To combat risks and offer financial stability to small businesses in Atlanta, a COVID-19 Small Business Relief Fund will be offered to qualifying businesses. Grants ranging from $2,500 to $25,000 will be awarded to cover employee salaries, rent, supplier expenses, and technical assistance for up to 3 months.
CNN created this excellent list of additional ways to help restaurants during the crisis:
Get advice: The reservation app Seated has launched a hotline for restaurant owners to get advice from finance and law experts in the hospitality industry.
Get publicized: Yelp is waiving advertising fees and offering free advertising, products and services for independent local restaurant and nightlife businesses.
Get help answering customer calls: Numa Virtual Answering Service is offering two free months on its business messaging platform to companies impacted by the pandemic. For restaurants: text-to-order with curbside pickup, even if you don’t have any online ordering site.
How to Help Restaurants in Your Community
Order takeout or delivery: Order meals from your local restaurants and tip generously! (Yes, experts agree that ordering takeout is safe during the outbreak.)
Here is a guide to restaurants offering take-out and delivery:
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Takeout COVID lists open restaurants that are selling their wine, beer, and food. Restaurants can list themselves for free and the restaurants that we’ve talked to have told us they’ve seen an increase in online orders. Our only goal is to help them get more customers. Tons of cities added.
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Resy’s City Guide to Takeout and Delivery Options: This restaurant reservation platform is now allowing users to “book” a meal for takeout or delivery.
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Dining at a Distance: Use this aggregator to find out which restaurants are doing take out.
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Grubhub: The delivery company has suspended fees for their restaurant partners, and proceeds from their Donate the Change program are going to the Grubhub Community Relief Fund.
Order from your local farmer: Check out options on Local Harvest, or look up your local farmer’s market to see If they have any online or delivery options.
Order a gift card and use it later: This is a great idea to support other businesses as well. Hair salons, local shops, tourist attractions and even pet boarding facilities may offer gift cards, so you can show loyalty to local businesses even when you can’t patronize them.
Purchase a “Dining Bond:” The Dining Bonds Initiative is offering gift certificates that work like savings bonds. You buy a bond for less than its face value, and redeem it at some point in the future.
Rally for Restaurants: This campaign encourages diners to buy gift cards, and they will donate one dollar for every social media post to the Restaurant Workers’ Community Foundation and World Central Kitchen.
Feed the Front Line: This multi-city/state effort (Texas, Atlanta, Nashville, Charlotte, and more) feeds the brave healthcare professionals working tirelessly to fight COVID-19.
I signed up for Feed the Front Line volunteering as they set-up in Atlanta and purchased a dining bond. Via Local Harvest I was able to find my local farmer’s market and pre-order items for pick-up next weekend.
Stay safe.