Since the Company's inception, the Capital Restaurant Concepts (CRC) family has been actively involved in giving back to the community. The Company's efforts and contributions are not only varied in their approaches, but also vast in their expanse — working towards a common goal. We feel a strong commitment to our guests, to the neighborhoods and communities they live in, as well as to the organizations that are important to them. While we nurture the body and mind every day with our dedication to serving excellent food in an inviting atmosphere — it is also extremely important to the CRC family to nurture our society in ways that are meaningful.


Community Service
Thanks to our Senior Executive Officer, Paul J. Cohn, CRC has raised the bar high in terms of our standards and commitment to local issues.

  • Stricter laws targeted at underage drinking in the District of Columbia. It used to be that only the purveyor who supplied the alcohol was committing a crime, but now the cardholder is also legally held responsible.
  • The "Cops in Shops" program developed to help enforce this legislation in local businesses. This program may not necessarily make us very popular with some businesses as the lost underage drinker represents a lost dollar. That all becomes meaningless when compared to the preciousness of life.


Donations
CRC also encourages each of its restaurants to donate goods, services, space, gift certificates, their time, and their knowledge, resulting in well over $200,000 each year to local and national nonprofit organizations
including:

  • The J.Paul's Georgetown 10K (for 20 years and raised over $100,000 for various charities, including Pediatric Aids)
  • Paolo's Town Center Annual Bike Race which we conceptualized in 1996 (just renamed in 2001, raised over $35,000 for The Red Cross)
  • Zoofari
  • Share Our Strength's Taste of the Nation
  • March of Dimes Star Chefs
  • Food & Friend's Chef's Best
  • DC Rape Crisis Center Gala
  • St. Jude's Children's Research Hospital Gala

Benefits
Giving is not limited to the CRC Home Office. Our hourly staff also supports and have inherited these values. these values. Frequently, our employees dictate which charities we assist.

  • Old Glory hosted the first-ever Unofficial Best Wings in Georgetown Wing-Off for one of their employees who was acting as an Ambassador to Autism as he rode on his bike from Washington DC to Washington state, visiting cities along the way to educate people about autism. Local restaurants were invited to compete, and all the proceeds benefited this endeavor.


Community Programs
CRC has participated in several programs that have impacted the community positively in ways other than simply monetary.

  • Groundhog Job Shadow Day, a program by the DC Chamber of Commerce, America's Promise and the National School-to-Work Opportunities Organization. In this program we hosted four students from the Bell Multicultural High School in DC at Paolo's Georgetown, J.Paul's Georgetown and Old Glory.
  • Brainfood, a local educational nonprofit organization that uses food as a tool to build life skills with youth in a fun and creative setting. Here we worked with them to establish a mentorship program allowing local high school students the opportunity to work with Managers and Chefs one on one in the restaurants.
  • The Hospitality Division of Stratford College. Here, our Chefs guest lecture and members of our management team and our Vice President — Human Resources sits on their Board of Directors.
  • For Love of Children. This organization places foster care children into apprenticeship positions in our restaurants (among others).


Opportunities and Resources
CRC has 11 establishments — employment opportunities galore!

  • We presently have 735 employees, making us one of the largest restaurant employers in the area and with some of the lowest turnover in the industry.
  • We train our people, provide them with support and all necessary resources — but most importantly, we empower them. We value our people for their ideas and their hard work. We foster their growth potential.
  • Not only do we play a role in community prosperity through sales, we also contribute through purchases. Whenever possible, our restaurants procure products locally. Whether we are talking about produce or kitchen equipment, fostering the economy by buying from those that are local, helps everyone.