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COVID-19 Assistance Resources

COVID-19 Assistance Resources

Date
March 19, 2020
Author
Cartel Staff
Categories
Featured, News


The information on this page is outdated. Please see Our COVID-19 Response for the latest updates.

 

June 22 – Hours at ARRIVE Austin have been reduced to 8a – 1p.

 

June 19 – Face masks are officially required for customers for the foreseeable future at all Cartel locations. They have been required for staff over the duration of the pandemic. We'll have some extras on hand for customers to use. Shortly after we made the decision to require face masks for customers, most municipalities followed suit after the Governor had allowed local officials to make the call on whether masks were required in their cities and counties.

 

June 12 – Pick up service has now expanded to ARRIVE Austin, ARRIVE Palm Springs, and Downtown Phoenix.

 

June 5 – Our pickup service has expanded now to our Downtown Tucson location with the same limited pick up service.

 

May 11 – Today, our pickup service has expanded to our Paradise Valley Tatum & Shea and Old Town Scottsdale locations. Our service format is not changing.

  • Orders must be placed online at pickup.cartelcoffeelab.com.⁠
  • Our seating areas and restrooms will remain closed.⁠
  • Extensive cleaning practices, glove wearing, and hand washing will be practiced.
  • Social distancing practices will be in place with guides for customers to stay six feet apart.⁠
  • Sneeze guards are installed at any point of contact between baristas and customers.⁠
  • Mask wearing is required among staff and highly encouraged among customers.⁠
  • We ask that all beverages be consumed off site.⁠
  • Delivery will also be available from all four locations via Postmates. 

 

April 29 – While we see states such as Texas end their stay at home order and Arizona modify their stay at home order, we plan to continue with our current service model for the time being to ensure the safety of our staff and customers.

 

April 13 – Our sanitation and safety practices now include mandatory use of face coverings in both production and customer-facing area (materials are being provided to staff), sneeze guards at all customer facing service areas, and the continuance of increased sanitation and cleaning measures in all spaces.

 

April 3 – We are currently in the process of applying for a loan through the SBA Payroll Protection Program. If approved, we will be able to hire back and pay our staff consistently for at least 8 weeks. We will provide updates as the loan process progresses.

 

April 1 – Due to the shelter in place order given in the state of Arizona, our Sky Harbor location is temporarily closed to assure the safety of our staff. Additionally, to provide easier social distancing for our customers, we are now offering delivery via Postmates at our Tucson Campbell-Grant and Tempe Maple-Ash locations. You can order delivery for Tucson here and for Tempe here.

 

Mar 30 – Although we've already seen shelter in place orders in Austin, Texas, and Palm Springs, California, this afternoon, Arizona Governor Doug Ducey ordered that the state shelter in place, allowing only essential businesses to remain open. While businesses serving food and beverage to be consumed off the premises are considered essential businesses, we are in the process of looking at the best next steps for the safety of our staff and customers. We'll circle back with updates as they're decided.

 

Mar 20 – A tip fund has been implemented for all laid off employees to request from. 20% of all gift card sales at our stores and on our online store will go directly toward that fund. Any hourly baristas at those three stores are being tipped normally; all other staff receive their full salary and cannot receive tips by law, therefore those portions of tips in the pool will go directly toward that fund.

 

Mar 19, 12 pm – Tempe Mayor Mark Mitchell is ordering bars, recreational and entertainment venues to close starting tonight at 8 p.m. That also includes in-restaurant dining. Delivery and curbside pickup are still allowed.


Mar 19 – We went to bed Tuesday night ready to implement a drastic and heartbreaking plan that would allow for us to sustain 80% of our people through this unprecedented time. When we woke up in the morning on Wednesday, we realized that we would be forced to lay off over 100 of our friends, family, and colleagues. Our hope is that we can hold out this storm and survive long enough to be able to bring them back onboard.

As it stands today, Cartel Coffee Lab is roughly 10 people and 3 locations. The managers and baristas still serving our loyal customers are receiving their normal pay. Funds are prioritized to pay those who continue to work. PTO of returning laid off staff will continue to accrue where they left off. Those enrolled in medical benefits will continue to have coverage through the end of this month, whether or not they've been laid off.

There are no pay cuts aside from the leadership team and owners. They’ve collectively agreed to go without pay and continue to discuss the drastic changes that will have to be made to how we approach everything.


I'm a customer and I'd like to help

Arizona
Texas

I'm an employee who's been laid off

Consider seeking government assistance in your state immediately. There are often week-long wait times, make sure to get a head start and apply immediately.

On May 12th, the CARES Act is a launching a new, temporary federal program called Pandemic Unemployment Assistance (PUA). PUA will provide relief for people are otherwise ineligible for Unemployment Insurance (UI). For those eligible, the $600 Federal Pandemic Unemployment Compensation benefits will be retroactive as of March 29, 2020. 
 

National
  • Apply for the NRAEF Restaurant Employee Relief Fund. They're providing $500 grants for restaurant industry workers affected by COVID-19. See more info and apply here.

Arizona
California
Texas
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