A Hartford cafe popular with insurance workers is the latest business to benefit from the Barstool Fund, an online effort that has raised nearly $23 million for struggling small businesses in recent months.
Piggy’s Cafe, at 69 Hawthorn St., was notified just after the new year that it would be getting money from the fund, set up by Barstool founder David Portnoy.
Donations from the fund will be given monthly and can total more than $20,000 a month per business, according to press reports. Businesses can apply by submitting a short video explaining their history and challenges. Portnoy picks the winners and has donated to 117 businesses so far.
Piggy’s Cafe owner Joela Malick spoke in her video of how the restaurant opened in 1979 as a dream project of her dad, Joe Malick. Malick Senior died this year from complications of ALS and COVID-19 and the cafe has struggled without visits from workers of nearby Aetna. Malick said she has kept seven employees on the payroll despite slow business.
“I know my dad is shining down on me… he’s proud of me for keeping this going,” Joela Malick said.
Popular downtown Hartford haunt Red Rock Tavern was one of the first businesses in the nation to benefit from the Barstool Fund, with the support announced in early December.
https://www.hartfordbusiness.com/article/hartfords-red-rock-tavern-an-early-beneficiary-of-barstool-fund
Two family-owned restaurants in Wallingford were also notified this month that they would be getting Barstool Fund support, Gaetano’s Tavern on Main and Laskara Restaurant at 295 Parker Farms Rd.
Maria Riopel and her mother run Laskara, a Greek eatery started by Maria’s late father. Business is down 75% since the pandemic started, Maria Riopel said in her application video.
“We want to keep the doors open,” Riopel said. “They’re going to get us through the pandemic,” she said of Barstool.