FareStart Amazon
A rendering shows one of the new restaurants FareStart is opening in Seattle in partnership with Amazon. (FareStart Image)

Amazon already donated more than 25,000 square feet of space and furnishings to help the nonprofit FareStart open five new restaurants in Seattle on Tuesday. Now the tech giant is leaving a hefty tip on the table, promising to match all revenue and donations up to $1 million for the first 25 days of the eateries’ operation.

The restaurants in Seattle’s South Lake Union neighborhood will provide training opportunities for FareStart’s Foodservice Apprenticeship Program, a new initiative to help entry-level employees in food services gain the skills to move on to higher-wage jobs.

Amazon announced the matching plan in recognition of FareStart’s 25th anniversary.

“Amazon is stepping up to the plate to address poverty in our region and challenging others to do the same,” FareStart CEO Megan Karch said in a news release. “Their incredible longtime support — and now match — will give thousands of people opportunity and hope. What a gift to the entire community!”

The venues, which will be open to the public, include Maslow’s (380 Boren Ave. N.), described as a full-service casual restaurant and bar with regionally-sourced ingredients; Community Table (Amazon’s Houdini North, 399 Fairview Ave. N.), offering “a market-like dining experience” that will be home to three casual eateries — one serving BBQ, one featuring made-to-order salads and another offering seasonal vegetables served in bowls with grains; and Rise (also in Houdini North), an Italian-themed coffee shop with pastries and sandwiches.

We are proud and honored FareStart’s five new eateries will be in the heart of our South Lake Union neighborhood, within our Amazon campus, and open for everyone to enjoy,” Jeff Wilke, CEO of Amazon Consumer, said in a statement. “FareStart is a pioneer in reducing hunger, poverty and homelessness in our community.”

Community Table and Rise will open to the public on Wednesday and Maslow’s will open on Monday. FareStart will continue to run its flagship restaurant in downtown Seattle along with its cafes in Rainier Valley and Beacon Hill.

To participate in the match, the public can make a donation at farestart.org or visit one of the FareStart eateries through Aug. 11.

 

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