Tucson restaurant and bar workers displaced by the coronavirus are getting a hand up from Barrio Brewing Foundation, which is donating $25,000 toward grocery gift cards.
βThere are people in the business who live paycheck to paycheck,β Barrio co-founder Dennis Arnold said. βWe came up with the idea β¦ of grocery cards.β
Kingfisher Bar & Grill, 2564 E. Grant Road, will close at the end of business Wednesday, according to a note owner Jim Murphy posted on the restaurantβs Facebook page Monday.
Tucson restaurant and bar workers displaced by the coronavirus are getting a hand up from Barrio Brewing Foundation, which is donating $25,000 toward grocery gift cards.
Rebecca Sasnett / Arizona Daily Star
βThere are people in the business who live paycheck to paycheck,β Barrio co-founder Dennis Arnold said. βWe came up with the idea β¦ of grocery cards.β
Luke Irvin, Mixed Mercury
Kingfisher Bar & Grill, 2564 E. Grant Road, will close at the end of business Wednesday, according to a note owner Jim Murphy posted on the restaurantβs Facebook page Monday.
Kelly Presnell / Arizona Daily Star
Fox Restaurant Concepts is offering 35% off for curbside pickup April 12-16 at its two Zinburger restaurants in Tucson.
Tucson restaurant and bar workers displaced by the coronavirus are getting a hand up from Tucsonβs Barrio Brewing Foundation Fund, which is donating $25,000 toward grocery gift cards.
Barrio founders Dennis and Tauna Arnold launched the fund last fall with the intent of doing small gestures to help people in need.
The $25,000 will cover the cost of $50 grocery gift cards for 500 people.
It is the first campaign of the fund.
βThere are people in the business who live paycheck to paycheck,β Dennis Arnold said. βWe came up with the idea β¦ of grocery cards.β
The Barrio fund donated the money for the gift card campaign to the Community Foundation for Southern Arizona, which has partnered with Greater Tucson Leadership to distribute the cards.
Restaurants and bars have until the end of the day Friday, April 10, to apply and each restaurant selected will receive five gift cards to distribute to workers, said Carrie Durham, Greater Tucson Leadershipβs events and community relations director.
βThere is not going to be enough money for everybody, but we are going to be able to reach 500 individuals,β Durham said, noting that going through the businesses and giving each the same number of cards ensures the effort will be fair.
Businesses can apply through the Tucson Metro Chamber by emailing abegody@tucsonchamber.org. Be sure to include the business name and contact information.
Durham said they hope to distribute the cards to businesses next week.
Meanwhile, anyone wanting to donate to the Barrio Brewing Foundation Fundβs efforts can do so through the Greater Tucson Leadershipβs website, greatertucsonleadership.org. Be sure to indicate that the donation is earmarked for the restaurant and bar workers relief efforts.
In other restaurant news this week:
A prominent Tucson restaurant hit the pause button this week and decided to temporarily close to ride out the coronavirus pandemic.
Kingfisher, 2564 E. Grant Road, will close at the end of business Wednesday, April 8, according to a note owner Jim Murphy posted on the restaurantβs Facebook page Monday, April 6.
βWe have spent the last 27 years of our lives getting to this place and it is difficult to hit the pause button. We are all going home to be with our families, but will return when the crisis has abated,β Murphy said.
βWhen we come back, it will be with new spring/summer menus, road trip menus, and a renewed sense of purpose and commitment. The love you have shown us since closing the dining rooms on March 17th has gone a long way to help support our staff.β
Murphy owns Kingfisher with Jeff Azersky.
Meanwhile, Fox Restaurant Concepts is offering 35% off all curbside pickup orders placed Sunday, April 12, through Thursday, April 16, to its Tucson locations of Blanco Tacos, Wildflower and its two Zinburger restaurants. You have to order online or over the phone and use the code FRC35. And if youβd like a little wine or beer with your order, theyβre cutting the price in half with the purchase of food.
Photos for April 1: Tucson gets by during Coronavirus Pandemic