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Fast casuals stepping up to feed out-of-work federal employees

The U.S. government may be shut down, but fast casuals around the country are open to helping workers

January 21, 2019

The U.S. government may be shut down, but fast casuals around the country are open to helping workers. Chicago-based Potbelly, Atlanta's Farm Burger and Washington D.C.-based &pizza are just a few brands that have stepped up to help feed thousands of government employees affected by the partial government shutdown, which has been going on for the past month. 

"We adjusted the offer multiple times in an effort to be as inclusive as possible, learned a ton in the process and are proud to say we've given away over $200,000 in pies to date," &Pizza spokeswoman Vanessa Rodriguez wrote in an email to Fast Casual's sister site, Pizza Marketplace.

Many restaurants in the D.C. area have lost about 20 percent of their business due to the shutdown, but &pizza has not quantified the number. It has said, however, that it is continuing its partnership with chef and humanitarian, Jose Andres. Andres opened a pop-up kitchen — Chefs for Feds — last week at World Central Kitchen, 701 Pennsylvania Ave., N.W. 

&pizza is now supporting Andres' effort at Broccoli Bar, 1817 7th St. NW.., which is open daily 11 a.m. to 6 p.m., to help feed federal workers and their families. Rodriguez said the chain is also looking for volunteers to help with the effort, as well as federal workers on furlough to work there for $15 an hour. 

In another effort to help pull the community together in this "time of crisis," &Pizza sent an open letter Monday to the D.C. community via email, social media and traditional media outlets, saying: "On December 22, 2018, the federal government shut down because of a dispute over a wall —a structure designed to divide. As a company represented and emboldened by a symbol of unity, that's literally the opposite of what we stand for."

&pizza Founder and CEO Michael Lastoria said the shutdown and its effect on the people of his community has moved him to action. 

"It has been an incredibly eye-opening and in some cases gut-wrenching few weeks," Lastoria said in during an interview with Pizza Marketplace. "When you cut off funding for about a quarter of the federal government, leaving 800,000 employees without pay, businesses have to step up. It's the right thing to do."