It’s been a tough year for restaurants in Washington, D.C. And as the federal government shut down on Wednesday, sending thousands of workers home and raising the possibility that many could lose their jobs permanently, a business climate that couldn’t get any worse suddenly did.
But some restaurants are seeing an opportunity, offering steep discounts to anyone with proof of federal employment — or in some cases, to anyone who walks through the door. For many, it’s a show of solidarity with the 400,000 federal employees who work in and around the district and serve as the region’s economic backbone. It’s also a way to drum up business.
“It’s a little bit of ‘You help us, we help you,’” said Diane Gross, who runs the Cork Wine Bar and Market on 14th Street. Once she learned of the shutdown, Ms. Gross decided to open early on Wednesday, at 3 p.m. instead of 5:30. She also announced several discounts for federal employees, including glasses of European wine for $5 to $8, French fries (recently voted the best by Washington City Paper) for $6, and avocado toast for $7.
As soon as the doors opened on Wednesday, two federal workers strutted in to take advantage of the deal. They ate, drank wine and commiserated about their plight. By the time Ms. Gross left to pick up her daughter from school at 4 p.m., there were eight people at the bar, “all federal workers,” Ms. Gross said. “They all ordered French fries.”
Despite a reputation for being transient and transactional, Washington inspires loyalty in its locals. Among them is Michael Haft, who grew up in the city and returned after serving in the Marine Corps in Afghanistan. He started Compass Coffee in 2014, and has opened 25 locations in the Washington area.
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The post A Shutdown Silver Lining: Federal Workers Eat and Drink at a Discount appeared first on New York Times.
