Supporting Prague’s Bars and Restaurants – Voucher, Donate or Invest?

The Coronavirus lockdown is having a devastating impact on Prague’s bars and restaurants. But how far would you go to ensure your favourite local bar or restaurant survives?

There are a number of ways that you can support your local. How many of the following would you consider?

1. Order takeaway food and collect direct from the restaurant. All the money goes to the restaurant, but this really only works if you live nearby.
2. Order food for delivery using a service such as Wolt, Bolt, or Dáme jídlo. The restaurant has to pay a hefty percentage to the delivery service, but at least make some money.
3. Purchase a discounted voucher for future use, for example, pay 1500 Kč for a 2000 Kč voucher. The place gets an injection of cash but eventually has to allow redemption of a voucher purchased for less than face value. You get a discount but take the risk that the place doesn’t close down before you can redeem the voucher.
4. Purchase a voucher at face value. The place gets an injection of cash and doesn’t lose anything. You take the risk that the place doesn’t close down before you can redeem the voucher.
5. Donate to using a site such as GoFundMe. The place gets an injection of cash. You receive nothing, except good karma and a thank you.
6. Purchase shares, for example, you agree to pay 10 000 Kč for a 0.5% stake in the bar or restaurant. You’ll also be required to pay 0.5% of the bills until the place turns a profit, but then you’ll receive 0.5% of the profits. You may receive shareholder discount but won’t have any say in the running of the place and could still lose the lot if the place doesn’t survive.
7. Purchase shares, for example, you agree to pay 100 000 Kč for a 5% stake in the bar or restaurant. You’ll also be required to pay 5% of the bills until the place turns a profit, but then you’ll receive 5% of the profits. Shareholder discount and you’ll likely have some say in the running of the place but could still lose the lot if the place doesn’t survive.

I would assume that everyone would agree with Option 1 and that is available to everyone.

I’m regularly using Option 2 and wrote about my experiences.

I’d be open to Option 3 but not Option 4 as that’s just a risky loan without any benefit – there don’t seem to be that many places offering discounted vouchers.

I don’t agree with Option 5 at all – much as I don’t want to see places go under, they are still a business and not a charity.

Option 6 has some appeal, although I imagine it would be difficult to discover when the place finally turns a profit. I don’t know of any places offering this option – do you?

Option 7 would really only appeal if I had the money to invest, already knew the owner and really believed that the place would survive.

Places Offering Discounted Vouchers

Pubble – 1000 Kč for a 1500 Kč voucher

If you know of a restaurant offering discounted vouchers, please use the form at the end of this article.

Places with Funding Campaigns

Social bistro Strecha

BarFud

Globe Bookstore and Cafe 

AnonymouS Bar 

California Republic

Bistro 8

Cross Club 

Storm Club