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Local Restaurants Team Up to Help Ireland’s Four Courts Employees

by Kylee Toland

Falls Church News-Press

Over two months ago, horror struck a popular Arlington Irish pub, leaving the restaurant damaged and many not knowing when it would reopen again. Despite being closed, local Little City restaurants are coming together to support the restaurant’s employees.

The Falls Church restaurant community is hosting a fundraiser on Saturday, November 5th, named “Crawl for the Courts.” The money being raised will go to Ireland’s Four Courts employees, the restaurant that was crashed into by a driver apparently suffering a medical emergency. Three employees were reported to be among the 12 who suffered injuries due to the incident.

The six local restaurants participating in the fundraiser are Clare and Don’s Beach Shack, Ireland’s Four Provinces, Liberty Barbecue, Northside Social, Dogwood Tavern and Harvey’s. The owners of Clare and Don’s and Ireland’s Four Provinces are the organizers of the fundraiser, with Clare and Don’s owner David Tax stating his involvement is “voluntary” after seeing the “tragedy” that happened at the pub.

Although there is a GoFundMe created by the owner of Four Courts, Tax said he and Ireland’s Four Provinces owner, Colm Dillon, wanted to show their support in the Falls Church area.

“Our interest is only humanitarian,” Tax said. “We just want to try to do what we can to help.”

The restaurant crawl will feature various foods and beverages from the six participating restaurants. According to the fundraiser’s press release, in order to participate in the event, a person will need to buy a voucher, with the vouchers being available for purchase at each restaurant. These vouchers are available online or in person. The cost is $100 per person and 100 percent of the proceeds raised will go to the employees of Ireland’s Four Courts.

Colm Dillon, the owner of Ireland’s Four Provinces and co-creator of the restaurant crawl, said he has known the owner of Four Courts since 1984 and since the area has a “small restaurant community,” he “had to do what he could to help.”

“When you have restaurants, you can’t be an island,” Dillon said. “There will be times where you need to borrow some things from the other restaurants.”

After discussing with Tax on how they could help, they decided to host the restaurant crawl. One important feature of the fundraiser is that there is no starting order on where one can begin and end the crawl. Dillon said he wants participants to be able to “scatter” rather than going in order, and said it is important because “we don’t want our partners overwhelmed.”

As for what each participating restaurant will be serving, Tax said Clare and Don’s will have six various fried shrimp options and possibly a grapefruit “crush” — grapefruit juice mixed with vodka, triple sec and lemon lime soda. There will also be the possibility of a vegetarian option for those who want it.

Harvey’s will be giving deviled eggs and one draft beer or wine from a limited list. Harvey’s owner Thomas Harvey said he was approached by Tax to be a part of the fundraiser, which was a “very quick yes” from Harvey.

Sam Saslowsky, the general manager of Dogwood Tavern, said his restaurant wanted to become involved with the fundraiser because of the past few years being “difficult for all members of the food and beverage industry,” while also having to deal with this unfortunate event. Dogwood Tavern will be serving Reuben Rolls, a spring roll wrap filled with corned beef, swiss cheese and sauerkraut; and a Hot Mulled Cider with Irish Whisky.

The fundraiser will also host a silent auction, with some restaurants donating gift certificates for their business. Dillon stated that anyone who is interested in donating items to be auctioned can contact him through irelandsfourprovinces@ gmail.com.

“We are just being good neighbors,” Dillon said. “The goal is to raise as much money for the staff as we can.”

FALLS CHURCH RESTAURANTS ARE Organizing a fundraiser Help Ireland’s Four Courts Employees! (Courtesy Photo)

OCTOBER 27 - NOVEMBER 2, 2022| PAGE 23

Falls Church Business News & Notes

Taco Bama Continues Expansion

Taco Bama, which started nine years ago in Falls Church, has grown into a chain of taco restaurants. The company expanded into Rockville last year and is opening another restaurant in Gaithersburg. Another eatery is planned for Washington, DC and expected to open in the winter of 2023. Taco Bama makes each menu unique to the location with the goal of giving that neighborhood its own version of the eatery.

Opportunity for Women Entrepreneurs

The annual Tory Burch Foundation Fellowship Program is underway, offering women entrepreneurs the opportunity to grow their businesses through workshops, coaching sessions, peer networking opportunities, and a $5,000 business education grant plus access to 0 percent interest loans. Applicants must meet certain criteria to apply, including being a woman entrepreneur who owns the largest or equal stake in a qualifying business. Applications close November 3.

BAE Releases Second DEI Report

BAE Systems, Inc. has released Caring for our People, Culture, and Communities, the company’s second annual report highlighting the significant progress made in advancing diversity, equity, and inclusion (DEI). Caring for our People, Culture, and Communities follows A Decade of Progress, the company’s first report, which detailed efforts in the last decade to increase DEI in the workplace. The report covers employee population, employee spotlights, and an overview of the company DEI strategy and goals. Key accomplishments around senior leadership roles, accountability, and a new sponsorship program for people of color are included.

BAE Systems Contract

BAE Systems in Falls Church received a $143 million contract from the U.S. Navy to continue to support the integration of various mission equipment, combat systems, and computer programs for the U.S. Navy’s Surface Combat Systems Center in Wallops Island, Virginia.

Small Business Credit Survey

Owners and key financial decisionmakers of for-profit businesses, share your recent experiences. Did your business seek financing such as loans or lines of credit in the last 12 months? How would you rate the financial condition of your business? The Federal Reserve’s 2022 Small Business Credit Survey is open for responses, and the Virginia SBDC Network is a partner on this effort. By taking the survey, you contribute to data that directly informs the Fed, federal government agencies, service providers, policymakers, and others—ultimately benefitting your business and other businesses like yours. Take the 10-minute survey now. The survey is open to businesses currently in operation, those recently closed, and those about to launch. All responses are confidential. The survey closes November 4, 2022. Questions? Contact Grace Guynn at grace.guynn@atl.frb.org.

 Business News & Notes is compiled by Elise Neil Bengtson, Executive Director of the Greater Falls Church Chamber of Commerce. She may be emailed at elise@fallschcurchchamber.org.

PAGE 24 |OCTOBER 27 - NOVEMBER 2, 2022 FALLS CHURCH NEWS-PRESS | FCNP.COM

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