The Bluegrass Virtual Tip Jar

As many of you know, we are living in an unprecedented time. The Bluegrass is operating under a new set of rules that are outside of our normal business operations.  While we are doing our best to succeed by offering pick-up and eventually delivery,  our baristas and bartenders wages have been severely slashed. Many of our employees, who are more like family, have been with us for many years. We want to be able to not only keep each  employee but also be able to pay them as they were being paid before the outbreak, or at least get close.

We have started this Virtual Tip Jar as a way to pay our employees and hopefully give them enough to stay in our Bluegrass family.  We appreciate anything that is donated, and we are so thankful to be in this wonderful Arvada community.

REWARD LEVELS:
*These will be fulfilled at the end of our campaign if we are funded, and all donors will be notified!

$10
Coffee/Latte of Your Choice + Pastry

$25
One Signature Cocktail 

$50
One Pizza and One Signature Cocktail 

$100
Dinner for Two: One appetizer, Two Small Salads, One Pizza & Two Signature Cocktails

$200
10 Old-Fashioned's For You And Your Friends!

$300
You will get your very own bottle of a Bluegrass Barrel Pick to enjoy while visiting us at The Bluegrass. We will keep it safe for you until you can come drink it!

$500
You will get the $300 award above PLUS a personal whiskey class for 2 people led by one of our Bourbon Specialists (they will be good!)

$1000
Private whiskey class for 6 people led by our Bourbon Specialists

$2000
In-home whiskey tasting for you and your friends (up to 15)

$5000
Private event on our back patio with, private bartender, catered menu and a $1000 bar spend. Up to 40 people.




Here is a note from one of our bartenders expressing his fears in this situation:

Tough Times
My industry(restaurants/bars) just like many others are going to have a very tough time getting through COVID-19. And maybe even a tougher time trying to rebuild what we’ve all worked so hard for. I’m out of work for a minimum of 30 days and have no idea when that most likely will be lengthened. Most of us don’t even live paycheck to paycheck. It’s shift to shift. We are very rarely given any kind of insurance option and when we do it’s usually bottom of the barrel coverage. Tons of us use public transportation because we can’t afford a vehicle. Most of our meals come from when we are at work. Whether it’s a guaranteed shift meal or a discounted dish, we eat 1-2 meals per day at work. That is no longer an option. I know people that can only afford to eat at work.
WE DEPEND ON THE PEOPLE!
We don’t pour a drink, make a dish or anything else until you call or walk in the door. We cannot work from home. We cannot call in sick because we aren’t salary and can’t possibly miss a shift because we can’t afford to miss A single shift. AND This was all before the virus came into our lives. In a world where 18$/hour doesn’t even come close to supporting an individual let alone a couple or a family. WE RELY ON TIPS. I make under $9 an hour. Most of the time my wages just balance out my taxes owed. My last three paychecks have added up to a grand total of $17.48. Yes that’s 17 dollars in 6 weeks of working 40 hours/week. So yes I rely 100% on tips. Im extremely lucky. I’m fortunate enough to work at an amazing place where the tips are some of the best I’ve made in over 20 years. However I still depend on the volume of people that walk in our doors. Weather affects business. Traffic affects business. Many other things including deadly viruses affect business. We make great tips some days but it all depends on THE PEOPLE!! YOU!! Yes you the amazing humans that spend your hard earned $$$ to take a load off, talk about your day, vent, meet with friends, make new ones, celebrate all types of events, get drunk, eat too much, tell jokes, watch sports, meet your future significant other, quench a craving, etc, etc, etc.
We are the heart of communities. We are the gathering places. We are safe places. We are fun places. We are the ones who put comfort in comfort food. We are here for you on your best days and even here for you more on your worst days.
The future is unknown on all levels?? I don’t know if I will be able to stay in the industry I’ve been in for over 24 years?? I don’t know if my owners will be able to ride this out?? I don’t know if the government will bail us out?? And even then will it be what we need?? I don’t know so many things and that is the hardest part of all.
I wish all of us the best of luck!!! My heart and soul is with all of my fellow bartenders, servers, bussers, hosts, cooks, dishwashers, managers and of course the Human race.

Help your friends, love thy neighbor, tell your family how much you love them and above all stay home so we can ALL get back to life.