Meal Voucher Program Helps Restaurants, Residents Amid Pandemic

By Sam Richards, Bay City News Foundation

MARTINEZ, CA — Lesley Stiles said the COVID-19 pandemic has been a "game changer" for her restaurant, and pretty much every other one. And at a time when coronavirus-related restrictions have taken a big bite out of her business, the Meals to Martinez program is providing a bit of relief.

"The concept of writing a check, providing money up front, to me, it's a very generous thing," said Stiles, a chef and co-owner of Roxx on Main, a downtown eatery. She was talking as she scrambled to set up tables and signs — on the Main Street sidewalk in front of the restaurant —for Thursday lunch customers. "It's like an angel coming out of the woodwork."

Roxx on Main is one of 16 downtown Martinez restaurants taking part in the Meals to Martinez program, being coordinated by Main Street Martinez, a nonprofit dedicated to the economic health of downtown Martinez, and bankrolled with $30,000 from the law firm Tully & Weiss. Meals to Martinez provides $1,875 to each of the 16 restaurants to provide $50 meal vouchers for each of 600 families who've lost much or all of their income because they or their employers were deemed "non-essential" during the pandemic.

Joseph Tully of the Tully and Weiss law firm said the program helps the participating restaurants, helps the families who will receive the certificates and, hopefully, will benefit other downtown businesses as people come downtown to eat.

"I'm just thrilled to be able to do this," said Tully, who opened his law practice downtown in 2001. "We want to give the restaurants some economic assistance, and we want people to be able to eat."

The original idea was for 20 restaurants to take part, Tully said, but a few downtown restaurants didn't respond to the call to join. So each of the 16 participating restaurants will get an extra $25 beyond what's needed to pay for 37 certificates. Each restaurant owner can use that $25 as they see fit, including to help their own employees.

Anyone can nominate certificate recipients, who must either live or work in Martinez and have suffered economic harm directly related to the COVID-19 pandemic.

Kara Klotchman, Main Street Martinez's executive director, said about 200 certificates had been given out as of noon Thursday.

Stiles said having that $1,875 check in hand helped pay Roxx on Main's monthly rent.

Javid Ebrahimi, owner of the Copper Skillet restaurant, said the check has helped keep his restaurant afloat.

"Every penny counts for us — that's how we make it," Ebrahimi said. "Getting back on our feet with a whole new system, a new set of rules, has been very challenging, and this money is extremely important. It helps all of us to have a job.”

A couple of people have already come to the Copper Skillet — now serving meals in a parking lot behind the restaurant — with vouchers in hand, Ebrahimi said. But neither cashed them in — yet.

"They thanked us, but we told them it's not us they need to thank," Ebrahimi said.

Stiles said she's grateful. No one had brought a certificate into Roxx on Main by noon Thursday, she said, but when they do, "they're going to get some really, really good food."

Tully said he hopes this program also helps make an already cohesive downtown community even tighter.

"I think Martinez is a tight-knit community, and the downtown segment of that is a reflection of Martinez in general," Tully said. "We're very supportive of each other."

To nominate a family for a meal certificate, people can email mealstomartinez@yahoo.com and include the nominee's first and last name, and three restaurant choices from the list of 16. Nominees must either live or work in Martinez and have suffered economic harm directly related to the COVID-19 pandemic.

Participating restaurants are Bar Cava Wine Whiskey & Eatery; Canton Restaurant; Firehouse Brew and Grill; Ginger Thai; Haute Stuff Restaurant and Catering; Lemongrass Bistro; Luigi's Deli; Roxx on Main; Sal's Family Kitchen; Slice of Italeigh Pizza & Cheesesteaks; Slow Hand BBQ; Sunflower Garden; Taco Daddy's; Troy Greek; Vic's Martinez and Copper Skillet.

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