Well, here we are in the holiday season, and I don’t need to tell any of you what a crazy year it has been. This has been the most challenging year that Al’s has ever had to endure. But hopefully, there is light at the end of a long tunnel! The news of promising progress in many areas of this pandemic is giving us a path to the other side. It’s no surprise that our business has been off by a lot. What is even harder, is not seeing your familiar smiling faces sitting at our counter. It has really made me think a lot about the community at Al’s, and how much we have all come to know one another. I miss hearing all of the updates about daily life as well as milestones in the lives of your families. Al’s is so much more than a restaurant! It’s a tradition that has been carefully passed to your friends and families, and I cherish that more than anything.
While we can see a glimpse of the light in the distance, it’s going to be a long winter at Al’s, and a challenge to keep things going. Here’s where you come in…
Put us on your Christmas list. We will happily take donations. This is one of the most helpful things you can do. With our sales being off by about 75%, and many of our expenses staying the same (rent, utilities, etc.), we take a loss every month. Hopefully the federal government will be helping us with new rounds of funding soon. But until then, donations are the most effective way to help us stay afloat.
As a token of our gratitude, all donors will receive a small gift. You will receive a code that will allow you to download an Al’s soundtrack. This experience will be a brilliant combination of the true sounds of Al’s Breakfast mixed in with some delightful music. It’s not quite ready yet, but it will be soon!
Anyone who donates (or has donated) $500 or more will have a tile with your name on it mounted on the wall at Al’s. These tiles will be made by Al’s potter, Ben Krikava. He makes all of our mugs and new pottery on the counter. We would like to recognize the people who make the extra effort to help us through this pandemic in a permanent way in our space.
Our top 15 donors between now and Christmas will receive an original Al’s Breakfast themed drawing by Minnesota artist Bud Wudlick. Bud, who was an Art teacher in Minneapolis, used to draw while he was waiting for his food. You may have seen his work above the coat hooks at Al’s, on the wall behind the stools.
There are a couple of good ways to donate. There is a “holiday donation” page on our website (alsbreakfastmpls.com). And of course, we gladly take cash and checks at the diner, either in person or via USPS (413 14th Ave SE, Minneapolis 55414).
If we do get some government assistance to help us through, we will use many of these donated funds to employ our staff to feed the homeless community and health care workers. We won’t let these funds go to waste!
For those of you who have given us donations this year, we thank you from the bottom of our hearts! With all of your help, we will make it through this pandemic!
Keep in touch with us on social media and get on our mailing list to get any updates, and please pass this information on to other Al’s lovers!!