Restaurant bonds? Kentucky chef crafts culinary version of war bond to help save restaurants

610 Magnolia Chef Edward Lee

​If you can't remember or never heard of it, a war bond was created to help get this country through a couple wars, to say the least.

Right now, restaurants are at war with not only the pandemic, but governments placing restrictions on them.

Well, as I scrolled through Instagram today, I saw something I thought was a throwback. It wasn't.

Chef Edward Lee at 610 Magnolia, located in Louisville, Kentucky, has introduced the culinary version at his restaurant.

---

@610magnolia is introducing a new concept for gift certificates.  We are calling them Restaurant Bonds. They are the same as gift certificates but the longer you wait to redeem them, the more they go up in value. 

It's a win for the customer and a win for my restaurant that typically gets inundated in January with a ton of gift cards being redeemed. These Restaurant Bonds are only being sold in the month of December in limited quantities. 

We are happy to share the details with any other restaurant if they are interested in doing something similar. 

Email 610@610magnolia.com for details

#happyholidays #SaveRestaurants

When I saw this, and the crafted bond, I was taken. It's really come to this. 

Restaurants are literally in a war. In many states, they were the first to see restrictions. It came with shorter hours at first, then as cases climbed, they faced no-dine-in mandates. Inside dining was erased.

Eateries had to become savvy to not only keep staff and themselves afloat, but feed people who, at first, were shocked they couldn't eat inside their favorite restaurant. 

Curbside, delivery and to-go became the only way for some. Others, like Litchfield Restaurant, Perrone's, and R'Way Pizza, turned parking lots and side lots into a outdoor getaway.

Locally, restaurants have seen an easement in restrictions, but who's to say there won't be another round? Lee has even said "he's afraid it's too late to save restaurants" in an Bon Appetit article.

610 Magnolia's Restaurant Bond

Now, we face a rise in cases all across the United States. Areas in California are seeing restaurants slapped with restrictions again, and this time tempers are flaring. 

Chef Lee has a great concept here, and hopefully restaurants follow his lead. Given the fact tourism season provides a major boost to eateries, this would be a huge incentive for folks visiting.

And with restrictions looming in wintertime, it could be the death bell for many restaurants. According to survey findings conducted by the National Restaurant Association, 10,000 have closed in three-months time.

The concept of a restaurant bond is an investment. It helps restaurants survive this part of the year and customers receive a perk in value when they decide to use later down the road.

Given those restaurants are still here.