Skechers Jumps In To Help Struggling Manhattan Beach Restaurants

MANHATTAN BEACH, CA — Michael Greenberg, president of Skechers, which is headquartered in Manhattan Beach, has announced the Skechers Restaurant COVID Relief Fund, designed to help Manhattan Beach restaurants in Downtown Manhattan Beach and the North End keep their staff employed, and help them pay the rent and operations costs. The fund is aimed at restaurants that have been the most severely impacted.

"Restaurants are the lifeblood of a community—they offer us amazing food, places to gather, and most importantly countless jobs. As Skechers has been part of this community for nearly 30 years, I want to do whatever we can to help our local Manhattan Beach restaurants survive the challenges brought on by the ongoing public health directives," said Greenberg, a resident of Manhattan Beach.

The latest mandated pandemic ban on outdoor dining is impacting restaurants, with no expected end in sight as COVID-19 positive test numbers continue to increase. And the most recent shutdown is not the first hurdle restaurant owners have had to jump. They spent time and money to create outdoor dining spaces that have now been made off limits, though the City of Manhattan Beach has created a workaround. Still, restaurants are not seeing the kind of business they would during a normal holiday season.

"When the pandemic ends and life returns to normal, these businesses need to be going strong—without our help, they just might not make it," said Greenberg. "That's why we started the Skechers Restaurant COVID Relief Fund—to show the employees and owners of these restaurants that our community is standing with them."

Skechers and the Skechers family will donate to match a maximum total contribution of $500,000. To help restaurants, the Skechers family also asks the community to frequently order take-out or direct delivery, both of which are more profitable to the restaurant that a third-party delivery service. Gift cards are also a great way to support Manhattan Beach restaurants.

Contributions for the Skechers Restaurant COVID Relief Fund matching grant program may be done online here. And during this holiday season, remember to shop local, dine local.

Restaurant owners interested in applying for financial aid from the Skechers Restaurant COVID Relief Fund may learn more online here.