Havana Central Family Fund

To Guests and Friends of Havana Central

I've been a restaurant owner for nearly 20 years now and never in my career have I felt so helpless.  On Sunday March 16th I was forced to temporarily lay off almost 400 team members and shut down our four Havana Central  restaurants in NY & NJ due to the Covid-19 crisis.

As anyone in this industry knows, the restaurant business is a daily struggle during the best of times.  You're on a constant hamster wheel trying to push sales, manage costs, balance labor, win over guest loyalty and steer the ship towards blue waters ahead.  But now we've hit the absolute worst of times.  My entire team is out of work.  

We are doing everything we can to stay alive so that we can re-open when this is all over.  I have assured our team members that the layoffs are temporary as I have every intention of getting our business up and running when the dust settles.  But, this situation is still unfolding and no one knows just how long the shutdown may last.

So here's what I CAN do.  I can try to put a few extra dollars in the pockets of my devoted team.  I can reach out to my friends, family and our amazing Havana Central fans and ask for your help during this scary time.  I can try to help my team make it through and let them know that people are looking out for them.

A personal note to my gracious Havana Central  guests...nothing has given me more pleasure than to welcome you into our restaurants over these past 17 years.  Watching you celebrate birthdays, marriage proposals, retirements, anniversaries, babies and other milestones has brought our entire team such happiness.  Serving you lunch, a mojito and a smile has been our pleasure.   We miss you and we are counting down the days till we can resume business as normal but for now I do ask you to consider those staff members that have helped you have an enjoyable meal (s) with us over the years and donate whatever you can and feel comfortable with.  Just know the hospitality you offer my team will come back to you ten-fold when we open up again...that I can PROMISE you.

(Every dollar raised will be split evenly among our hourly employees.)

With Sincere Gratitude,

Jeremy Merrin
Founder & CEO, Havana Central Restaurant Group