Boloco CEO: 'It was a miraculous day'
COVID-19 is taking its toll on businesses across the U.S., and Boloco CEO John Pepper wasn't going down without a fight.
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March 26, 2020 by Cherryh Cansler — Editor, FastCasual.com
COVID-19 is taking its toll on businesses across the U.S., and Boloco CEO John Pepper wasn't going down without a fight. He posted a video Wednesday on YouTube asking customers to order from his stores to help him keep the doors open.
It worked.
"It turned into a miraculous day on so many levels," he said during an interview with FastCasual. "The video was watched over 7,000 times and counting, leading to raising over $10,000 (and counting) towards our #feedthefrontline effort, which will put over 2,000 meals in the hands of frontline workers in the Boston and Upper Valley (NH/VT) hospitals, first responders, and other essential workers."
Pepper said in the video that his store in Lynnfield, Massachusetts, would need to make at least $1,500 in sales to stay open. Customers heard his call.
"Each of the 4 restaurants blew through their 'stay-open' marks posting what I would call 'normal' days of sales, which would have seemed impossible 24 hours ago," he said. "All of them are open again today — with a shortage of food — to fight for another day."
Finding inspiration
Pepper said another fast casual restaurant, Starbird Chicken, inspired him to put it all on the line. He received an investor update in the middle of the night from CEO Aaron Noveshen talking about how the restaurant was staying alive.
"(It was) showing that businesses could actually figure out ways to survive and thrive, while staying safe, which, so far, they are doing," Pepper said about Starbird. "Which means their people are fully employed. We were heading toward 'just shut it all down' mode and his optimism was contagious.
"So we get to fight for another day."
Editor's note: This is part 3 in a series called "Navigating COVID-19," where FastCasual describes what restaurant brands are doing to keep their businesses alive. If you'd like to share your story or tips, please send email to Editor@FastCasual.com. Click here for part 1. About Cherryh Cansler
Cherryh Cansler is VP of Events for Networld Media Group and publisher of FastCasual.com. She has been covering the restaurant industry since 2012. Her byline has appeared in Forbes, The Kansas City Star and American Fitness magazine, among many others.
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