During the longest government shutdown in United States history, which began on December 22, 2018, approximately 800,000 government employees were left without pay. In response to this financial strain, numerous businesses in Atlanta and the surrounding metro area mobilized to offer support through free and discounted food and drink deals. These offers were specifically targeted at furloughed government employees and those working without pay, typically requiring the presentation of a valid government-issued ID to redeem. The initiatives ranged from complimentary coffee and full meals to significant percentage discounts on food bills, aiming to alleviate the burden on affected workers and their families.
Comprehensive List of Atlanta Food and Drink Deals
Restaurants, coffee shops, breweries, and food pantries throughout Atlanta provided a variety of assistance. The following offers were available during the shutdown period, with many requiring a valid government employee ID for verification.
Free Meals and Specific Food Items
- &pizza: This establishment offered free pizza to furloughed employees daily from 6 to 8 p.m.
- American Eats Tavern: Located in Georgetown, the restaurant provided free sandwiches to furloughed employees from 2 to 5 p.m. daily until the shutdown ended.
- Baked by Yael: Situated across from the National Zoo, this bakery offered free coffee for federal employees and contractors while supplies lasted. Additionally, it provided free bagel sandwiches or small soup each weekday while supplies lasted for essential zoo employees.
- Beefsteak: Furloughed employees could receive a free Beefsteak Burger from 2 to 5 p.m. daily with a government ID until the end of the furlough.
- Brickwall Tavern: Federal workers with valid IDs received a 28 percent discount on their food bill, with the discount percentage increasing each day until the end of the shutdown.
- California Shabu Shabu-Fairfax: This Fairfax, Virginia restaurant offered furloughed federal workers a free dinner on Thursday, January 24, and free lunch on Saturday, January 26, and Sunday, January 27, when they presented a government ID. The free meal was from a special menu.
- Chopt Creative Salad Co.: Provided free Warm Bowls to any federal worker with a government ID from 6 to 8 p.m. through Friday at its DC Metro locations.
- Condado Tacos: Offered free tacos for furloughed employees with a government ID through January.
- Farm Burger: Participated in "Furlough Fridays," which included a free chicken burger, fries, and iced tea. This offer was limited to one meal per eligible guest per day while supplies last and was valid only at restaurant locations in Dunwoody, Buckhead, Decatur, and Grant Park.
- Smokin’ This and That BBQ: Located in Florence, Kentucky, this restaurant provided free meals to furloughed government workers starting December 22 and planned to continue through the end of the shutdown.
- Saltyard: Located in the Brookwood complex on Peachtree Street in Buckhead, this restaurant offered one free item from its "farm share" menu to any furloughed federal employee with a valid ID during the shutdown.
Discounted Meal Offers
- Alba Ray’s: Furloughed government employees received half off the price of jambalaya.
- Causwells: Offered half-priced Americana burgers to furloughed employees.
- Publico Atlanta: Located on Crescent Avenue in Midtown, this restaurant took 50 percent off an entree for all furloughed federal employees with valid IDs until the shutdown ended.
- Taco Cabana: This Texas chain offered federal employees affected by the shutdown a 20 percent discount on its entire menu, with a maximum savings of $20. To redeem, employees needed to show valid federal government employee identification issued by a department affected by the shutdown. The offer was valid at all participating locations for dine-in or drive-thru orders and was set to continue through the period of the shutdown.
- Wing Factory: All locations offered half off meals to furloughed federal employees and federal employees working without pay with valid ID until the end of the shutdown.
- The Flying Biscuit Cafe: All locations throughout metro Atlanta offered 15 percent off meals for furloughed workers with valid IDs during the shutdown.
- Various restaurants at Midtown’s Atlantic Station: Establishments such as BGR Burger, The Pig and The Pearl, and Chick-a-Biddy offered furloughed federal workers discounts off meals.
Coffee and Drink Deals
- Brash Coffee: The Westside and Buckhead locations offered free coffee to furloughed federal employees with valid IDs until the shutdown ended.
- Buteco at the Beacon: Located in Grant Park, this spot offered furloughed federal employees a fresh cup of coffee on the house until the shutdown ended.
- Hodgepodge Coffeehouse: Located in East Atlanta Village, this coffeehouse offered free coffee to any federal employee who presented a valid ID until the government shutdown was over.
- Independent Grounds Coffeehouse: Located in Kennesaw, this shop offered free coffee to all furloughed federal workers with valid IDs until the end of the shutdown. The shop also provided free WiFi.
- Joe’s Coffee Shop: Located in East Atlanta Village, this shop offered a free drip coffee to any furloughed government employee or federal employee working without pay with proper ID until the end of the current shutdown.
- Revolution Doughnuts: Both the Decatur and Inman Park locations offered a free small coffee to furloughed federal employees with a valid ID throughout the shutdown.
- Sweet Hut Bakery & Cafe: All locations offered 50 percent off a beverage, Monday through Friday, to government employees with valid IDs.
- District Doughnut: Furloughed employees received a free cup of coffee, dubbed "Furlough Joe," with any purchase.
- SweetWater Brewery: The Atlanta brewery offered furloughed federal employees two free beers when they showed their government ID.
Community and Support Programs
Beyond individual business offers, community-led initiatives and support services were also established.
- Community Meal Sign-Ups: Residents of Kirkwood and East Atlanta offered to provide free, home-cooked meals to furloughed federal employees, federal employees working without pay, and their families throughout the shutdown. Federal employees were asked to sign up via a provided Google Form, and community members wishing to provide a meal were also asked to sign up through a separate form.
- The FruitGuys: This fresh fruit delivery service provided fresh fruit to TSA workers at Atlanta’s Hartsfield-Jackson International Airport on Thursday, January 24.
- Food Stamps and Food Pantries: The Atlanta Community Food Bank provided a list of metro Atlanta food pantries and pop-up pantries and offered information on how to apply for SNAP (food stamps) during the shutdown.
- StreetWise Care Pantry: Set up a mobile pantry in the parking lot of Lawrenceville City Hall on Saturday, January 26, from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. to provide food to up to 200 furloughed federal workers or those working without pay with valid IDs, on a first-come, first-served basis.
- Spiller Park Coffee: This coffee shop partnered with chef José Andrés World Central Kitchen (WCK) and its #ChefsforFeds initiative to open an emergency kitchen on Thursday, January 31, from 2 to 5 p.m. at its Toco Hill location on North Druid Hills. This offer was on hold until further notice.
- ACard Program: Furloughed employees could go to the concierge desk located at stairwell 15-Teal (the security office) with a valid government employee ID to receive an ACard and a list of participating restaurants and businesses.
- Too Cool Traffic School: This online traffic school, serving Florida, Ohio, Tennessee, and Wisconsin, offered free courses for furloughed government workers and their families.
Other Non-Food Offers
While the majority of offers were food-related, some businesses provided assistance in other areas.
- Bikram Yoga Works: Noon classes were free for furloughed employees until the shutdown was over when a valid ID was presented at check-in. This offer was valid for the Riverdale Park, Ivy City, and Baltimore, Maryland locations, with the Takoma Park location offering free classes at 10 a.m.
- Compassion Cultivation Training: A donor sponsored scholarships for furloughed government workers to take an eight-week class starting Wednesday, January 30. The program was held at The Insight Shop in Vienna, Virginia, and registration was required by January 27.
- The Dog Park: This Alexandria, Virginia-based dog and cat boutique offered 20 percent off all dog and cat food for government employees and contractors affected by the shutdown.
Conclusion
The 2019 government shutdown prompted a significant response from the Atlanta business community to support furloughed federal employees. A wide array of food and drink deals became available, ranging from free daily coffee and meals to substantial discounts on restaurant bills. These offers, which generally required a valid government ID for verification, were designed to provide immediate, practical relief to workers facing financial uncertainty. In addition to commercial offers, community-led meal programs and food pantry resources provided further layers of support, highlighting a collective effort to assist those impacted by the shutdown.