Article

Boloco CEO: 'Survival is in question'

Boloco CEO John Pepper calls on customers to help him stay open.

March 25, 2020

John Pepper, CEO of Boston-based Boloco, posted a video Wednesday calling on his customers to help him stay open amid COVID-19.

"It's really not going well," Pepper said in about trying to keep the doors open to his five Boston locations. "I guess this is what politicians do. At some point, they start to see what looks inevitable and they reach out and say, 'there's three more hours til this absolute critical deadline,' and I guess that's what I'm doing now."

Pepper said the eight-union chain switched to a carry-out and delivery-only model and launched a "Feed the Frontline" campaign last week directed at customers still working amid the virus. It made all burritos $5 and added a special Warrior I burrito to symbolize strength, but sales aren't high enough to keep the doors open for much longer. 

"Unfortunately, nothing has really worked," he said. "We've delivered. I've delivered personally.... "We've had the police chase us. We've had a lot of fun. We've left everything on the mat as they say."

Sadly, that means not much more can be done, and if its location in Lynnfield, Massachusetts, doesn't do between $1,500 and $2,000 in sales by end of the day, Pepper will close it. Two other locations will soon follow if he can't get people to order from his stores.

"Boloco is one of the ones that's about to accept the fact that it's just not working and may have to shut down and wait for the government to decide what it wants to do to help us reopen," he said. "So that's my plea. If you can order Boloco, if you are near one of our open restaurants if you can get delivery, you can get take out. We are employing all our safest practices. Our people need their paychecks"

He said although he communicating with everybody every day, he needs his customers to help.

"So, I hope you'll consider Boloco today," he said. "If not, I totally understand, but I felt like it  wouldn't be me if I didn't at least make an honest, transparent plea that we do need help if we are going to make it through this."

Editor's note: This is part 2  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.