An Inman Park Restaurant Now Delivers Takeout and Toilet Paper

“Necessity is the mother of invention,” or so the saying goes. And Hampton and Hudson owner Billy Streck is apparently taking that to heart when it comes to creating ways to fundraise for his staff, while providing food and household essentials to the community during the COVID-19 outbreak.

Streck turned his Inman Quarter sports pub into a takeout joint that also sells toilet paper, milk, and local produce. Think an Amazon-like subscription service, without Jeff Bezos involved, and some proceeds from the online store going directly to Hampton and Hudson’s staff.

Here’s how it works.

People order from the “general store”, which includes toilet paper, soap, paper towels, milk, eggs, local produce boxes, and meals, from 12 p.m. to 8 p.m. daily. Pay by either credit card or Apple Pay, and schedule a time to have the order delivered within a three-mile radius or picked up at the restaurant. The shop features an option to schedule advance or repeat orders. There is a $25 order minimum, and the $5 delivery charge and tip go directly to restaurant employees. Streck also set up a separate GoFundMe page for his staff.

“Jenn and I have opened Hampton + Hudson General Store to help keep the restaurant afloat during this time,” Streck tells Eater Atlanta. “We’ve seen an overwhelming decline in business, and regrettably, we’ve had to let staff go and reduce hours to noon-8pm. To say we are devastated to be in this situation, is an understatement.”

Streck isn’t alone in his efforts to help restaurant workers facing financial uncertainty. Tiny Lou’s pastry chef Claudia Martinez is delivering pastries to homes within a 15-mile radius of the restaurant on Ponce with 100 percent of the sales going to help her fellow staff members. Little Spirit, in the same complex as Hampton and Hudson, is donating 50 percent of the sales from online gift card purchases to bar employees, now through March 22.

Many restaurants around Atlanta have set up fundraising campaigns through GoFundMe or virtual tip jars via Venmo and Paypal to offset some of the financial burdens for laid-off or furloughed employees.

Know of a restaurant staff fundraiser, charity, or other ways to help area restaurants? Send Eater Atlanta the details via the tipline.

NOTE: The novel coronavirus situation in Georgia is fluid and ongoing. Follow Eater Atlanta for continuing coverage on COVID-19’s impact on Atlanta’s restaurant industry. Additional stories are forthcoming.

Check the Georgia Department of Public Health website for further guidance and updates on COVID-19.

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