The CWE North Community Improvement District (the North CID), which includes businesses in the commercial district north of Lindell on and off Euclid up to Washington Ave., has allocated $300,000 for the purchase of gift cards from businesses within the District. (The CID receives its funding from a 1% tax on sales within the district’s boundaries.)
The objective is to put cash in the hands of businesses now, in an effort to assist them through the COVID-19 stay-at-home order. The gift cards will be available for distribution to the public once the business community is reactivated. Details will be forthcoming.
In addition, the CWENorthCID has earmarked $32,700 for the purchase of meals from participating restaurants within the District to be delivered to staff at Barnes-Jewish Hospital and homeless clients in residence at City Hope STL, a local 501C-3 .
The CID’s contribution funds the purchase of 150 meals per day, 3 days a week, and is divided among 15 participating restaurants* on a rotating basis. 4 restaurants per day prepare the meals. Ken Fowler and staff from Mary Ann’s Tearoom have volunteered to deliver the meals, see photo above.
*Participating CWE Restaurants:
- Bar Italia
- Cocina Latina
- Dressel’s Public House
- Drunken Fish
- El Burro Loco
- Evangeline’s Bistro
- Gamlin Whiskey House
- MaryAnn’s Tea Room
- Medina Mediterranean Grill
- Mission Taco Joint
- Pi Pizzeria
- Salt + Smoke
- Straub’s
- Sub Zero Vodka Bar
- Thai202
There is an opportunity to contribute to this fund. 100% of your donation goes directly to participating CWE restaurants. A $15 donation funds one meal; $4,613 has been raised from the community in just three days. Here’s the contribution link.
The CID is also offering an incentive program intended to encourage purchases from neighborhood businesses during the shutdown.
Neighbors are invited to save receipts from purchases made within the District between now and May 15th and redeem them for gift cards at the CWENorthCID office, 449 N. Euclid at Washington, once the stay-at-home order is lifted.
Receipts totaling $100 will earn a $20 gift card; $200 in purchases earns $50 in gift cards. Here are more details in St. Louis Magazine about the gift card program. Even more information can be found in a recent press release.
For questions about these programs, please contact CWENorthCID Executive Director Kate Haher, [email protected]