Day: May 31, 2020

Garrison Brothers Distillery donates $200K for COVID-19 relief

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Team Rubicon COVID-19 relief. Photo: Trang Lee, used with permission. 

On April 2, Garrison Brothers Distillery launched Operation Crush COVID-19, a fundraising campaign to help American communities recover and rebuild from the ongoing coronavirus pandemic. One way Garrison Brothers was able to raise these funds was by pivoting the forthcoming release of an eight-year-old, top-shelf bourbon called Laguna Madre and gifting it to donors who contributed $1,000 or more to the cause. Since then, the initiative has raised over $200,000 and has an ultimate goal of $2 million. Veteran-led disaster response organization Team Rubicon received $100,000 from the philanthropic effort and Garrison Brothers recently announced three more groups as beneficiaries, including 53 individual bartenders, Southern Smoke Foundation’s Emergency Relief Fund and The Texas Restaurant Education Association’s TX Restaurant Relief Fund. (Garrison Brothers Distillery, 2020)

Two Texas hospitality nonprofit organizations each received $23,500 from Good Bourbon for a Good Cause, Garrison Brothers Distillery’s 501(c)3 public charity. Houston-based Southern Smoke Foundation allocated the donation to their  Emergency Relief Fund, providing assistance to individuals in need in the food and beverage industry.

Austin-based Texas Restaurant Association Education Foundation (TRAEF) allocated the donation to its TX Restaurant Relief Fund, an initiative providing immediate financial support to Texas’s independent restaurateurs and their employees.

Nonprofit organizations were not the sole beneficiaries of funds raised via Operation Crush COVID-19. Bartenders who participated in The Bourbon Take Over of Texas each received $1,000 as well. The Bourbon Takeover of Texas is Garrison Brothers Distillery’s annual mixology event, which pre-qualifies bartenders to compete in a statewide bartender competition, The Garrison Brothers Bourbon Brawl. The competition was originally supposed to take place from March 26 through May 7 but has been tentatively rescheduled to October.

Garrison Brothers Distillery plans to continue their fundraising efforts until their goal of $2 million is met. Anyone interested in making a contribution to the fundraising efforts can do so online.  Contributors of $1,000 or more will receive a bottle of Laguna Madre, an eight-year-old, top-shelf Garrison Brothers.

“This crisis has once again shown how our industry and our customers band together to support each other. Restaurants are the core of our communities, and the generosity of individuals and organizations like Garrison Brothers who rally them are helping to ensure that they survive this challenging time. On behalf of those independent restaurateurs and their employees who will benefit from these funds via the TX Restaurant Relief Fund, thank you!” – Dr. Emily Williams Knight, president and CEO of the Texas Restaurant Association.

 

Pearl announces re-opening of Farmers Market and Food Hall

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The Farmers Market will re-open this Saturday June 6. Photo: Julia Keim, used with permission.

Pearl continues its dedication to small businesses and farmers by updating its response to COVID-19 and announcing re-openings. Pearl Farmers Market will reopen on Saturdays only from 9a.m. to 1p.m. starting on June 6. The Bottling Department, Pearl’s food hall, will reopen its dining room at 50% capacity beginning on June 9. The hours of operation for the Bottling Department restaurants and bar will be Tuesday through Sunday 11:30a.m. to 8p.m. (Pearl, 2020)

To accommodate the overwhelming response to curbside pickup in the wake of COVID-19, Pearl will also continue to offer its Farmers Market curbside service. Farmers Market Headquarters will be located next to Bike World in the former Can Recycling Building, located at 300 E. Grayson St., Suite 100.

Guests can continue to order online.  All online market orders must be submitted by Tuesday at midnight for pickup on Friday. Curbside pickup is available from 3p.m. to 7p.m. on Fridays and the pickup location will move to the Farmers Market Headquarters space starting on June 12. The last pickup from the Pearl Stable will be on June 5. Upon arrival, guests can follow the signs to the curbside location and Pearl representatives will be on hand to deliver bags to vehicles.

The Saturday Farmers Market will move from Pearl Park to the parking lot area by Green Vegetarian Cuisine, 200 E. Grayson St., until further notice. The Farmers Market will serve as an open air grocery store. Currently there are no tables or sitting areas available to avoid congregating and eating or sampling in the market footprint will not be permitted.

Pearl has committed to the following Farmers Market pledge to maintain the safety and health of its employees, visitors and residents:

Farmers Market at Pearl

  • Vendors will wear masks
  • Make hand sanitizer/hand washing stations available to employees and guests
  • Vendors will handle all products; guests are asked to point to product and avoid touching
  • Post the Pearl Pledge in high traffic areas to remind everyone of best hygiene practices

Farmers Market Guests
Please approach Farmers Market like you would a grocery store:

  • Wear a mask
  • Maintain at least six feet distance from individuals not in your household
  • While shopping, refrain from consuming food and drink
  • Wash or sanitize hands upon entering the market area and between vendor interactions
  • For the time being, leave furry friend(s) at home

“Our local producers and farmers market team were able to quickly pivot in the wake of COVID-19. The overwhelming response to curbside pick-up has prompted us to invest in a new Farmers Market Headquarters that will enable us to continue this service alongside the careful reopening of the market to the public. We are excited to continue to support our local producers and community with this new endeavor.” – Pearl’s Chief Marketing Officer Elizabeth Fauerso.