Greensburg restaurants giving away gift cards to help closed businesses

Ordering takeout at a Greensburg area restaurant this week could score you a gift card to one of the local businesses that have closed during the coronavirus pandemic.

The Greensburg Community Development Corp. and the Downtown Greensburg Project have teamed up for the giveaway, buying about $1,000 worth of gift cards from local businesses to support them during the shutdown.

Through April 1, anyone who orders food from one of the eight participating restaurants will be entered to win a $20 gift card to a business that has needed to close. Each restaurant will give away one gift card per day.

The initiative is a way to promote local restaurants and businesses at a time when income has plummeted, said Jessica Hickey, director of the Downtown Greensburg Project.

“I think everyone is concerned, a lot of people aren’t able to bring in any money without being open,” she said.

Rachel Flowers, co-owner of Sun Dawg Cafe, had the idea for open restaurants to partner with closed businesses.

“So many of the people that come into Sun Dawg are local business owners, too, and my heart breaks for them,” she said.

About two weeks ago, a musician who played at Sun Dawg refused to accept payment, saying he knew the pandemic was going to make life hard for restaurants, Flowers said. She was inspired by his generosity.

“We said, ‘You know what, we’re going to take that money and use it buy gift cards from local companies in the Greensburg area, and we’re going to pay it forward,’ ” she said.

After giving away several gift cards at Sun Dawg, she went to GCDC and the Downtown Greensburg Project with the idea to get more restaurants involved.

The promotion features gift cards for 25 businesses, including spas, dance studios, salons and shops.

“A $20 gift card in the long run, I know it’s not a whole lot, but that might bring a new customer into the store,” GCDC director Ashley Kertes said.

The gift card purchases were largely funded by donations from Charley Family Shop ‘n Save and and Somerset Trust.

Flowers said the Greensburg community has rallied around its businesses in an extremely difficult time.

“It’s amazing what our community has done, not just for ourselves but for each other,” she said. “It’s been overwhelming, and it’s truly a very moving time emotionally.”

Participating restaurants are:

• DeGennaro’s Restaurant and Lounge, South Greensburg
• Jaffre’s Restaurant and Bar, Greensburg
• Morelands at Waterworks, South Greensburg
• Sun Dawg Cafe, Greensburg
• Sunset Cafe, Greensburg
• Tapped Brick Oven and Pour House, Hempfield
• The Boulevard, Salem Township
• The Lamplighter, Salem Township

The Downtown Greensburg Project also is doing regular gift card giveaways on its Facebook and Instagram pages.

In Allegheny County, a GoFundMe Page was set up in support of restaurant workers. The Greater PGH Restaurant Workers Emergency Fund is approaching $20,000 of a $60,000 goal. If the goal is met, up to $150 will be paid per worker.

“As a result of this crisis, we need to turn to each other for mutual aid and support with any resources we are able to share,” the GoFundMe page reads. “We are the ones who have cooked for you, served you and cleaned up for you. Please consider giving back during this time of mass financial hardship.”

Carnegie Mellon University also started the Pittsburgh Virtual Tip Jar for bar and restaurant workers. Donations can be made at cmu.is/pgh_tipjar.