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(Greg Koch and Steve Wagner)
Stone Brewing Offers Aid To Laid Off Employees By Pandemic
On March 17, Stone Brewing was forced to shut down its entire hospitality department. Five Stone taprooms, and Stone Brewing World Bistro & Gardens locations in both Escondido and in Liberty Station, as well Stone’s restaurant in Napa. And Stone’s entire hospitality team of 400 employees were necessarily laid off.
Making matters worse due to a loophole in federal regulations Stone was unable to support those laid off with PPP loans.
To offer desperately needed support Stone Brewing initiated the Stone Relief Fund. And to kick off the fund, Stone Brewing Co-Founders Greg Koch and Steve Wagner contributed their entire 2020 salaries.
The fund was later opened to all Stone employees and the public. In an outpouring of support, Team Stone stepped up with huge contributions making a second round of giving possible. More than $140,000 will be dispersed in a second round of funding later this month totaling nearly $400,000 in funds for the Team Stone family.
“Like many businesses, Stone Brewing has not been spared by this pandemic,” explained Greg Koch, Stone Brewing executive chairman & co-founder. “Laying off team members who helped build this company really hurt… it still hurts. But we’ve received many grateful and touching notes from the folks who received the funds, letting us know that the money went to things like rent, health insurance and childcare. This is what Team Stone is all about. I’m honored to work alongside those who dug deep into their own pockets to make a difference for their colleagues.”
Words To Drink By
““If you don’t read the newspaper, you’re uninformed. If you read the newspaper, you’re misinformed.”- Mark Twain, American writer and entrepreneur
In Hops We Trust
A new YouTube series created by the NJ-based production company Ambassador Studios is showcasing New Jersey breweries. In Hops We Trust, which launched in October, has already featured notable NJ breweries including Bolero Snort, Climax, Hoboken and Ship Bottom Brewing.
Hosted by Ralph Saro, In Hops We Trust features passionate brewery owners as they talk New Jersey beer, many times over beer, in engaging 15-minute episodes. And there are reportedly plans to expand the beer series well beyond the Golden State with future episodes at breweries in Tennessee, New York and Texas.
