CINCINNATI, Ohio—Fifty West Brewery has become a staple in the Cincinnati area. But like most in the service industry, it was hit hard by the pandemic. The owner of the brewery had to let go of 90% of his staff. But then he decided he’d try out a new concept to potentially save some jobs.

  • Fifty West had to let go 90% of its employees because of the pandemic
  • Faced with even more layoffs, the owner decided to bring his idea for a Burger Bar to life earlier than scheduled
  • In just one day, the new restaurant did its sales goal for the entire week,

The Fifty West Burger Bar is yet another example of a new business opening during the Coronavirus pandemic. But the owner of Fifty West says he didn’t think it was going to happen.

The Burger Bar was an idea in the making for over a year. But when Bobby Slattery, the owner of Fifty West was faced with laying off even more of his staff, he decided, why not create it now?

“Why can’t I open the burger bar?" Slattery said. "Why should I let this thing stop us from doing this?”

So after a sleepless night, Slattery approached his dwindling staff with his idea.

“If you guys are willing to work with me and you’re willing to work seven days a week for as long as it takes with no end potentially in sight, we’re going to get this thing open and we’re going to save their jobs," Slattery said.

They were all on board, many hoping the success of the Burger Bar would open up new opportunities for already let go co-workers.

“Being able to get them back here, I mean that was motivation enough for me," Brent Gilbert a chef and kitchen manager said.

And the response was outstanding. Slattery says in just one day, the Burger Bar exceeded its goal for the entire week. They did so well, they sold out of product and had to close Sunday to restock. 

“Where are all these people coming from?" Gilbert said. "They literally have to be coming from every corner of the city. Indiana, Kentucky, everywhere. I just didn’t expect it.”

“Every ticket that comes through the printer, it doesn’t feel like you’re making food for people, it feels like they’re sending love your way," Slattery said.

Slattery says he is so grateful to be on the other side of the most difficult time he’s been through as a business owner.

“It’s the people that we worked so hard for to keep their jobs," he said. "It’s the customers that walked through the doors and supported us. It’s just when you see all that emotion, it’s such a hard time. We went through it. There are people out there right now that are going through the exact same thing.”

And Slattery says, if you are struggling to make ends meet right now, he encourages you to continue to work hard to reach your goals.

“If you are out there having a hard time with what’s happening out there, I hope this serves as an example for you," he said. "Six weeks ago, I had to reach out to friends, I needed help. I couldn’t sleep. My anxiety was through the roof. And now I’m sitting here six weeks later and this is one of the most amazing things that has ever happened to me as a person."