Editor’s Note: Coronavirus has hammered the hospitality industry, forcing millions of layoffs and business closures. Consider ordering takeout, buying gift cards or pledging money to initiatives like the James Beard Foundation Food and Beverage Industry Relief Fund or Save Restaurants.
The spread of COVID-19 has caused restaurants to shutter and lay off millions of employees. Businesses are either shifting from dine-in to takeout services only, or completely shutting down their operations. While the future of the hospitality industry is unclear, you can still support your favorite restaurants right now by buying restaurant merch.
The new website Merch4Relief partners with restaurants across the country to create and sell merch, with 100 percent of the profits going back to the restaurant. The company is steadily adding new restaurants to its roster; at publish time, there are partner restaurants in Boston, New York, Seattle, Los Angeles and Philadelphia.
The hospitality agency Care of Chan recently launched a web store to sell merchandise for some of the businesses they represent and the places they love to eat eat at. Think t-shirts from NYC dim sum empire Nom Wah, totes from Michelin-starred wine bar The Four Horsemen and assorted apparel from restaurants across the country.
Eater and its local city guides have produced lists of restaurants from around the world that sell merchandise, including Atlanta, Portland, London and Montreal. Give your favorite local joint a call and see if they have any merchandise for sale, and if not, consider buying a gift card. There’s never been a more crucial time to get your fits off in support of the people who keep us fed.
