“COVID-19 has affected all of us, but few more directly than our friends in the hospitality industry. Just as we rely on them to keep Chicago one of the most vibrant dining cities in the world, they rely on us to support them through good times and bad.”

• • •

STOCK MFG. CO. designs and manufactures workwear primarily for the hospitality industry, with clients of all sizes - from restaurants and hotels to coffee shops and breweries. Now, Stock has teamed up with local pals and partners to form “Chicago Hospitality United,” a fundraising effort in support of hourly hospitality workers from 100 local restaurants and bars. Since launching just last Monday, the initiative has already raised more than $166,000. Our friend Tim Tierney, Head of Product at Stock, shared the story behind the project with us.

• • •

The idea started with Tim’s friend Wade McElroy - co-owner of Leisure Activities, the creative hospitality studio that owns Chicago bars Ludlow Liquors and Young American. Wade reached out to Tim about creating a product that could raise money for hospitality workers during this time.

“We were in Istanbul together when the threat of COVID-19 in the U.S. started to get serious,” says Tim. “A couple days after we returned to Chicago, the Governor announced bar and restaurant closures. We knew the decision was responsible, but would immediately put thousands of hourly employees out of work. So we aimed to generate money for these people as quickly as possible.”

• • •

To help organize, Tim and Wade then reached out to friend Jenna Liberman - owner of Slow Down Co., a Chicago marketing and communications agency specialized in the hospitality industry. “Within a day, we had a t-shirt designed and up for sale on our website along with a tip jar. Meanwhile, we created a Google Doc where bars and restaurants could sign up to receive funds for their employees. The list was filled within a day, and luckily our friends and neighbors at Luckyprints offered to create discounted merch for businesses who didn’t make it to that list in time.

“Shortly after the initial design went live, Cody Hudson - artist and owner of restaurant group Land & Sea Dept. (Parson’s, Longman & Eagle, Lost Lake) - reached out offering to contribute a design for more merch to sell. So we added a tee, sweatshirt, cap, tote, and bumper sticker.

“Bacardi stepped up and offered to cover the cost of the Cody Hudson tees so that 100% of the proceeds, rather than net proceeds, would go to employees. A couple days later, Virtue Cider reached out offering to fund the product cost of the next release. The community is really stepping up to support our sacred hospitality industry and its workers.”

• • •

Sales of Cody Hudson’s “Love One Another” pieces will end this Sunday, March 29th, at midnight. “We don’t want to exhaust the generosity of people who have support the effort,” says Tim, “and there are plenty of other ways to support the industry that have popped up in the past week or so.”

We’re in this together, and we’re proud of friends like Stock for their efforts to support local industry creatively and efficiently during this time. Check out all of the available pieces here.

STOCK MFG. CO. • stockmfgco.com • (312) 371-1555

100% of proceeds from the Chicago Hospitality United Fundraiser directly support hourly employees from the following Chicago establishments:

All Together Now
Avec
Avondale Bowl
Bad Hunter
Band of Bohemia
Bang Bang Pie
Bangers & Lace
Bar Biscay
Bar Sótano
Beatnik
Beauty Bar Chicago
Best Intentions
Big Star
Birrieria Zaragoza
Black Bull
Blackbird
Boefhaus
Bordel
Bucktown Pub
bungalow by middle brow
Burger Bar Chicago
Cafe Bonhomme
Cafe Cancale
Cafè Marie Jeanne
Cafe Press
Celeste
Chef’s Special
Cherry Circle Room / Game Room / Milk Room
City Rock Korean Kitchen
Community Tavern
Daisies
Dove’s Luncheonette
DropShot Coffee
El Che Steakhouse and Bar
Elske
Emporium Arcade Bar
Estereo
Finom Coffee
Floriole
Frontera Grill
Frontier
Giant
Galit Restaurant
GT Fish and Oyster
GT Prime
Hopewell Brewing Co. Taproom
Ina Mae Tavern
Janitor’s Closet
KAI ZAN

Kibbitznest Books, Brews & Blarney
Kite String Cantina
Kumiko / Kikkō
La Quebrada
Little Victories
Lone Wolf
Lonesome Rose
Longman & Eagle
Lost Larson
Lottie’s Pub
Ludlow Liquors
Maillard Tavern
Mango Pickle
Maria’s Packaged Goods
mfk.
Mini Mott
Moon Palace Restaurant
Mott St.
Nonnina
Off Color Mousetrap
Pacific Standard Time
Parson’s
Passerotto
Perilla Korean American Fare
Piccolo Sogno
Pilot Project Brewing
Porto
Posto 31
pretty cool ice cream
Proxi
Pub Royale
The Publican
Publican Quality Meats
Queen Mary
Revel Room
Scofflaw
Sepia
Sip of Hope Coffee Bar
Sociale
Sol Cafe
Sparrow
Spilt Milk Tavern
Sportsman’s Club
Steingold’s
Topolobampo
Twisted Hippo Taproom and Eatery
The Violet Hour
Young American
Xoco

THE CHICAGO PARKS FOUNDATION is here for you as a positive, productive partner during this time. Stay safe, enjoy our parks when you can, and keep in touch via our Seeing Green Blog as we continue to share more park stories throughout the coming weeks!