Workers build the inaugural parade reviewing stands in front of the White House in December. (Photo by Mark Wilson/Getty Images)
When Donald Trump is sworn into office in less than three weeks, all eyes will be on D.C. as more than a million visitors flood the region with a potential $1 billion in revenue.
Nearly 20 local restaurants and bars announced that they will donate funds from Inauguration Weekend to service organizations like Martha’s Table, Mary’s Center, Thrive DC, and Planned Parenthood, and more establishments are poised to join in.
The movement is called All In Service D.C., and it includes 18 local spots like the Marvin, the Open City/Tryst/The Diner family, Mandu, Room 11, and more. Each establishment gets to choose which organization gets the donation and how much.
Chez Billy Sud, for instance, is donating 5 percent of sales from its wine bar to Ayuda, an organization that provides legal and social work services to area immigrants.
“There are so many people who work in service who are immigrants,” says Clementine Thomas, co-owner and operations manager at Chez Billy Sud. “For us, it was a great way to exemplify what’s important to us. We’re excited.”
Since All In Service launched, spokesperson Sarah Massey says she expects the number of participant establishments to double. “My phone is off the hook today,” she says.
Massey emphasizes that everyone—regardless of political affiliation—is invited to dine. Unlike, say the boycott of Yuengling organized after the beer company’s owner endorsed Trump before the election, All In Service isn’t avowedly against the president-elect.
She says All In Service began when “a group of service industry professionals and friends thought about what we could do at this time when we have a national spotlight on us.”
Thomas sees it as a way to remind all of the visitors swinging into town that D.C. is more than a swamp that needs draining.
“During election cycles, Washington becomes synonymous with the government and people forget there’s a real community here with real people,” she says. “We have this opportunity with national attention being placed on District of Columbia to share what’s important in our community.”
Massey also wants to emphasize the community in the All In Service platform.
“It gives everyone an opportunity to show their generosity,” says Massey. “We invite all of our visitors to experience amazing local restaurants with great service and service organizations that choose D.C.”
These are the establishments currently participating and the organizations they’re supporting, in alphabetical order:
Beuchert’s Saloon—Mary’s Center
Bourbon—Martha’s Table and Planned Parenthood
Breadsoda—Human Rights Campaign
Chez Billy Sud—Ayuda
The Gibson—Thrive DC
Mandu—Mary’s Center
Maple—Thrive DC
Room 11—Martha’s Table
The Coupe—Mary’s Center
The Diner—Mary’s Center
Open City—Mary’s Center
Open City at the National Cathedral—Mary’s Center
Tryst—Mary’s Center
Tryst at The Phillips—Mary’s Center
Suns Cinema—Ayuda
The Queen Vic—Planned Parenthood
Thip Khao—(not posted)
This post has been updated to reflect that Chez Billy Sud is donating 5 percent of its sales, not 5 percent of its profit.
Rachel Kurzius