Cooper's Hawk Feeding Employees During Coronavirus Crisis

ORLAND PARK, IL — Amid the millions of Americans whose lives have been effected in some way by the coronavirus pandemic are 5,000 or so who work for the Cooper's Hawk Winery and Restaurant chain that has grown from its roots in Orland Park some 15 years ago to a having become a popular gathering spot for dinner and drinks in 43 locations throughout the country.

While these employees have been out of work since the dine-in restaurant business was effectively shut down by the spread of the new coronavirus, there's at least one part of life they can still depend on.

Having access to good food.

"We are not only feeding all of our 5,000 team members, but we are feeding them well," said Tim McEnery, the founder and CEO of Cooper's Hawk who opened the first location in his home town of Orland Park in 2005.

Managers and local kitchen staffs at all Cooper's Hawk locations have rallied to feed their local teams during the crisis, McEnery said. Lunch and dinner are available to all employees, who pick up four meals from their Cooper's Hawk every other day in an effort to adhere to space and social distancing necessities.

"These aren't clean out the freezer type meals, either," McEnery said. "Our team is using Cooper's Hawk ingredients to create unique dishes. And some days, they are items off our regular menu."

About 7,000 meals are made per day, and 50,000 in just the first week after the coronavirus pandemic forced all their restaurants, all company-run, to close temporarily.

"We knew, based on our estimates, that this could go on for awhile and that we should feed our team members and their families," McEnery said. "The first day we put a plan together during the first 24 hours and started right away."

The CEO said it is the team members they are feeding across Cooper's Hawk locations in Illinois, Virginia, Florida, Missouri, Arizona, Indiana, Wisconsin, Maryland, Ohio and Michigan that have helped make the company so successful.

"We all have that same culture and commitment to each other, and that carries throughout the country," McEnery said. "All 5,000 folks collectively being on the same program and sharing the same core values. We are different, but committed to being the best."

The meals aren't the only way employees at Cooper's Hawk are supported, though. Financial support and advisory services, including a hotline, are both available through corporate as well.

While Cooper's Hawk restaurants were closed completely for the first week of the coronavirus crisis, they all now offer carryout and plans are for them to soon begin delivery service as well.

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