fbpx

Hands for Hospitality

An ever-growing list of area restaurant professionals is banding together on behalf of hourly employees who’ve been temporarily sidelined—or who’ve lost their jobs—in the wake of business shutdowns due to the coronavirus (COVID-19).

The group—which includes Shooters Waterfront, as well as The Restaurant People and its roster of establishments—has launched a crowdfunded initiative called “Hands for Hospitality.” Donations can made at the following Go Fund Me page: gofundme.com/f/hands-for-hospitalityFTL. Money raised will be distributed equally to hourly restaurant employees who are out of work and registered into the program (as authorized by their respective eateries and restaurant groups).

“This is unchartered territory for restaurateurs and business owners,” says Tim Petrillo, co-founder and CEO of The Restaurant People. “We all have the safety and health of our patrons top of mind—and equally so, the well-being and livelihood of our valued team members. It’s been overwhelming to see Fort Lauderdale restaurants pull together in an effort to provide relief to our employees, and we’re grateful for the continued support of our community.”

As of Thursday afternoon, the list of participating Broward-based restaurants in Hands for Hospitality included:

  • The Restaurant People (including Yolo, O Lounge, Java & Jam, Township, Rooftop@1WLO, TRP Taste, S3 and Boatyard)
  • Be Nice Hospitality (Coconuts, Foxy Brown, Lunch Room and Top Hat Deli)
  • Beer Famous Group (Tarpon River Brewing)
  • Old School Hospitality (the Quarterdeck restaurants, Good Spirits and Whiskey Neat)
  • Knallhart Management Group (The Wilder, Rhythm + Vine, and Boulevard Kitchen + Juice Bar)
  • It’s Better on the Beach Hospitality (Spazio Italian Restaurant and Wine Lounge, Café Ibiza, Rock Bar, Tsukura and Blondies Sports Bar)
  • Shooters Waterfront

 

“This fundraiser is meant to provide temporary support to our team members, who are like family to us,” says Aaron Abramoff, chief financial officer of The Restaurant People. “Restaurants and bars rely on a constant stream of revenue that stopped abruptly. Many of our establishments are still offering curbside or delivery food options to best service the community we adore and respect. We will continue to service the great city of Fort Lauderdale to the best of our abilities until we fully open our doors again.”

A website also is in the works (handsforhospitality.com), but it had yet to launch as of Thursday afternoon.

You May Also Like
Shoma Village and City of Hialeah Host FoodTruck Fest on Saturday

The event will also include a Mother’s Day-themed marketplace.

Read More
Shoma Village
Dolphin Mall in Miami to Open Entertainment Venue Featuring Dining and Hospitality Options

Taubman Realty Group and Live! Hospitality & Entertainment partnered to create Vivo! Dolphin Mall, which will feature 62,000 square feet of dining and entertainment space with an expansive 30,000-square-foot al fresco plaza set to debut this summer. Vivo! will provide a destination for premium entertainment, food, drinks and first-class hospitality in Miami.  “It’s been incredible

Read More
Las Olas Wine & Food Festival Returns for 27th Anniversary

The Las Olas Wine and Food Festival (LOWFF) will celebrate its 27th anniversary on Friday, April 21. As one of Fort Lauderdale’s most extensive wine and food festivals, the event will transform Las Olas Boulevard and offer guests the opportunity to sip, sample and enjoy dishes from 40 of South Florida’s finest restaurants and more

Read More
Vinya Wine to Celebrate National No Phone Day With Miami’s Top Restaurants

Wanting restaurant guests to enjoy their meal and camaraderie with friends and family, Vinya Wine is spearheading an initiative to encourage patrons to enjoy a sip of wine with friends or family on National No Phone Day. Organized by Allegra Angelo, Vinya Wine partner and sommelier, Tuesday, April 18 has been declared No Phone Day,

Read More
Other Posts
Culinary Stars Unite for Broward Partnership’s Chefs Helping the Homeless Event

The fundraiser was sponsored by BMW of Pembroke Pines, the Leo Goodwin Foundation and Memorial Healthcare System.

Read More
Chefs Helping the Homeless
Howl at the Moon Returns to Fort Lauderdale

The music venue’s disappearance was just an interlude.

Read More
Howl at the Moon
LOCASH Headlines Déjà Vu Goes Country Presented by JM Family Enterprises

The artist has received eight charting singles and generated nearly 800 million global streams.

Read More
Déjà Vu
Stoner’s Pizza Named Official Pizza of the Florida Panthers

The fast-casual pizza brand is headquartered in Fort Lauderdale and has 48 locations in the U.S.

Read More
Stoner's Pizza