Fleet Landing Brings Furloughed Employees Back to Work

CHARLESTON, SC – APRIL 29, 2020–Fleet Landing Restaurant & Bar was able to bring back over 130 furloughed employees this week after securing a PPP loan for small businesses.

“We worked fast to secure this loan, and we are excited to bring our entire team back to the table as quickly as possible. Since the government-mandated closure shut our doors on March 18th, we’ve been trying to figure out ways to help our hourly employees who are most affected by this sudden change of events, including food distribution and the creation of a GoFundMe Employee Relief Fund with weekly raffle items,” said Weesie Newton, co-owner of Fleet Landing.

“Although there are many restaurants in town successfully and properly executing take out, this is not something that we saw ourselves able to do in a safe way for our staff with such a small kitchen. Now, we’re working towards staff engagement and continued safety training so everyone is ready for the ‘new normal’ when we’re able to reopen.”

With the downtime the restaurant is currently experiencing, the management team has been working on giving the building a refresh as well as brushing up on administrative tasks, particularly those directed at sanitation and safety. Now, with the local offering of discounted ServSafe classes, more team members than ever are attending online safety training.

Through partnerships with US Foods and Ecolab, among others, Fleet Landing is currently putting together the comprehensive plans for reopening safely. “In the restaurant industry, you’re lucky to get one or two days a year to get out of the restaurant and focus on the future.

This unprecedented pause in business has allowed us to step back and define what we want the landscape to look like when were

turn –how do we keep our team and guests safe, and what does the long-term future look like for our business, for starters?”

Fleet Landing plans to open in conjunction with the governor and mayor’s mandates, CDC guidelines, and common sense. “We know that it is important to take the health and safety of both our staff and the public very seriously when considering a re-open date.”

Fleet Landing, located at 186 Concord Street in Charleston, SC is normally open for lunch daily from 11 am –3:30 pm followed by dinner nightly from 5-10 pm along with brunch on Saturdays and Sundays from 11 am –3 pm. For more information, visit www.fleetlanding.net