Atlanta Restaurants And Businesses Step Up A Comprehensive Guide To Free And Discounted Offers For Furloughed Federal Employees During The 2019 Shutdown

The 2019 U.S. government shutdown, which began on December 22, 2018, left approximately 800,000 federal employees without pay, creating significant financial hardship. In response, a wide range of restaurants, coffee shops, breweries, and other businesses in the Atlanta metro area and nationally launched initiatives to support these employees. These programs provided everything from free meals and coffee to discounted services and entertainment tickets, offering a crucial lifeline during an uncertain period. This article compiles and details the freebies and deals available to federal employees during the 2019 shutdown, as reported by multiple sources.

The Response from Atlanta's Food and Beverage Industry

The Atlanta restaurant scene responded with an outpouring of support. The offers ranged from free, full meals to steep discounts on beverages and entrees, demonstrating a city-wide effort to aid affected workers and their families.

Restaurants Offering Free Meals

A notable initiative came from Mojo Pizza in Decatur, which offered a free large cheese or pepperoni pizza to any furloughed federal employee with a valid ID for the duration of the shutdown. This provided a practical and comforting solution for a family meal.

Similarly, Farm Burger implemented "Furlough Fridays," offering a free meal every Friday until the government reopened. The offer included a free chicken burger, fries, and iced tea, and was valid at all their locations in Dunwoody, Buckhead, Decatur, and Grant Park. There was a one-meal-per-guest-per-day limit, and it was applicable only for on-premise dining.

Restaurants Offering Discounted Meals

Several establishments provided discounts rather than completely free items. Publico Atlanta on Crescent Avenue in Midtown offered 50% off an entree for all furloughed federal employees with valid IDs until the end of the shutdown. The Brookwood location of Saltyard provided one free item from its "farm share" menu to any federal employee with a valid ID.

Other Atlanta-area deals included: * All Wing Factory locations: 50% off meals to federal employees with valid ID until the end of the shutdown. * All Flying Biscuit Cafe locations: 15% off meals for federal employees with valid IDs during the shutdown. * Sweet Hut Bakery & Cafe locations: 50% off a beverage, Monday through Friday, for government employees with valid IDs, with a limit of one per person. * BGR Burger, The Pig and The Pearl, and Chick-a-Biddy at Atlantic Station: Discounts off meals. Employees needed to show their government ID at the concierge desk at stairwell 15-Teal to receive an ACard and a list of participating restaurants.

Coffee and Drink Deals

Coffee shops were also a vital source of support, offering a free beverage as a small but appreciated gesture. Businesses in Atlanta responded as follows: * Brash Coffee (Westside and Buckhead locations): Free coffee to federal employees with valid IDs until the shutdown ended. * Buteco at the Beacon in Grant Park: A free cup of coffee to federal employees with valid IDs until the shutdown ended. * Hodgepodge Coffeehouse in East Atlanta Village: Free coffee for any federal employee with a valid ID until the government reopened. * Joe's Coffee Shop in East Atlanta Village: Free drip coffee for federal employees working with or without pay with a valid ID until the end of the current shutdown. * Independent Grounds Coffeehouse in Kennesaw: Free coffee for all federal employees with valid IDs until the end of the shutdown, and the shop also offered free WiFi. * Revolution Doughnuts (Decatur and Inman Park locations): Free small coffee to federal employees with a valid ID throughout the shutdown.

Beverage services extended beyond coffee. SweetWater Brewing Company in Buckhead offered two free beers to all federal employees with valid IDs until the government reopened, and Guac y Margys provided a complimentary tequila tasting for federal employees with a valid ID.

Community-Led Meal Programs in Atlanta

Beyond individual businesses, community organizations in specific Atlanta neighborhoods mobilized to provide home-cooked meals. Residents of Kirkwood and East Atlanta coordinated efforts to deliver free meals to federal employees and their families. The program operated on a two-part sign-up system: federal employees could register to receive a meal, and community members could sign up to volunteer to prepare and deliver them. This grassroots effort provided not just nourishment, but also a sense of local solidarity and support during a difficult time.

National Chains and Entertainment Options

Support for federal employees was not confined to Atlanta. National chains and organizations also offered a variety of deals, providing a broader safety net for affected workers across the country.

• Fazoli’s: Participating locations offered a free Pizza Baked Spaghetti with the purchase of a drink to federal employees with valid ID through January 27th.
• Harlem Globetrotters: Any federal employee on furlough could show their government ID at a local box office to receive two free tickets to a game in North America, while supplies lasted. This offer was only valid during the current shutdown.
• Hudson Group (airport retailers): With over 1,000 stores in 87 locations, this company offered 20% off food, beverages, and core store products to TSA and customer service workers with their TSA or Transborder ID. This discount continued until the end of the shutdown.
• Potbelly Sandwich Shop: From January 23rd to January 27th, government workers could get buy one, get one free entrees when they showed a federal government ID.
• &pizza: Offering free pizza from 6 to 8 p.m. daily with a valid government-issued ID.
• Beefsteak: Free Burgers from 2 to 5 p.m. daily with a government ID until the end of the furlough.
• Chopt Creative Salad Co.: Free Warm Bowls to any federal worker with a government ID from 6 to 8 p.m. through Friday at its DC Metro locations.
• Condado Tacos: Free tacos for federal employees with a government ID through January 23rd.
• Baked by Yael: Free coffee for federal employees and contractors while supplies lasted, as well as free bagel sandwiches or small soup each weekday while supplies lasted for essential zoo employees.
• Brickwall Tavern: Federal workers with valid IDs received 28% off their food bill, with the discount increasing by each day until the end of the shutdown.
• Causwells: Half-priced Americana burgers as a federal employee.
• American Eats Tavern: Free sandwiches from 2 to 5 p.m. daily at the Georgetown restaurant until the shutdown ended.

Other Services

Support extended to other daily needs: * Museums: Many art, science, and history museums across the U.S. offered free admission for federal employees with valid ID. Employees were advised to contact their local museum for more details and to verify participation. * Notarize: This service offered free notarizations for all federal employees during the shutdown. To qualify, participants had to sign up for an account with a .gov email address.

Essential Services: Food Stamps and Food Pantries

Recognizing the severity of the situation, organizations also helped federal employees access essential food resources. The Atlanta Community Food Bank provided a list of metro Atlanta food pantries and pop-up pantries, as well as information on how to apply for SNAP (food stamps) during the shutdown. This addressed a critical need for those facing prolonged financial instability.

StreetWise Care Pantry also set up a mobile pantry in the parking lot of Lawrenceville City Hall on Saturday, January 26, from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. The event provided food to up to 200 federal employees or those working without pay with valid IDs on a first-come, first-served basis.

Policy Information: Back Pay and Unemployment

The Georgia Department of Labor provided critical information about the financial implications for federal employees. The Government Employee Fair Treatment Act of 2019 (GEFTA) ensured that federal employees would receive back pay for the period of their furlough once government funding was restored. Importantly, the department clarified that any unemployment benefits received for the same timeframe would be considered overpayments and must be repaid. Federal agencies had the authority to deduct these benefits from back pay directly or reimburse the Georgia Department of Labor on the employee's behalf. This information was vital for employees considering applying for unemployment insurance, as it could have unintended financial consequences.

Conclusion

The 2019 government shutdown prompted an extraordinary response from businesses, both large and small, and local communities. In Atlanta, a wide range of establishments, from pizza joints to coffee shops, offered free or heavily discounted food and drinks to federal employees. This support was complemented by national chains providing meals and entertainment, and by community-driven meal programs that offered a personal touch. For many employees, these offers were a vital source of sustenance and a reminder of community solidarity during a time of significant hardship. The shutdown was eventually resolved, and back pay was issued, but the generosity of this period highlighted the importance of mutual aid in times of crisis. The programs also provided a model for how local businesses can play a significant role in supporting their communities during national emergencies.

Sources

1. Atlanta Restaurants Offering Free Meals and Food Deals to Federal Workers
2. Government Shutdown Freebies 2019: Food Deals for Furloughed Employees
3. Federal Government Shutdown Information for Federal Employees
4. Deals and Freebies for Furloughed Workers During Shutdown