Arlandria Bar Fundraises to Support Laid-Off Employees

Arlandria bar Hops N Shine (3410 Mount Vernon Avenue) is running a GoFundMe for its laid-off kitchen staff.

The bar opened last January and has become a local fixture; full to the point of overflowing on Wednesday trivia nights. Like other restaurants, Hops N Shine is operating a limited carry-out and delivery business, and the company said in the GoFundMe that it’s had to minimize the number of employees for financial and health reasons.

“Our kitchen team became part of our family over three years ago at Tysons Biergarten and moved to Hops N Shine with us when TBG closed due to redevelopment,” Hops N Shine said. “They are parents and husbands responsible for caring for more than just themselves. If we could just give them the money to feed their families, pay their rent, or take care of their car payments, we absolutely would. As a small business that has been open for about a year that has closed its doors indefinitely (barring takeout & delivery), we just do not have the funds.”

Many of those in the donated column are regulars at the bar, which has raised $3,600 of its $25,000 goal.

Hops N Shine is open for carryout and delivery, and is also hosting online happy hours and live music.

The fundraiser said the bar is planning on opening again soon and former employees will be offered their jobs back, but that those employees needed help in the meantime.

Hops N Shine isn’t alone. Other bars and restaurants in Alexandria with GoFundMe campaigns for laid-off staff include:

• The Birchmere (3701 Mt Vernon Avenue)
• City Kitchen (330 S. Pickett Street)
• Foxfire Grill (6550 Little River Turnpike)
• Ramparts Tavern and Grill (1700 Fern Street)
• Southside 815 and Northside 10 (815 S. Washington Street and 10 E. Glebe Road)

Photo via Hops N Shine/GoFundMe