Ford’s Fish Shack lays off staff, fights to keep brand operating

These are brutal times for Loudoun County restaurants. Scenarios unimaginable just a few weeks ago are unfolding hour by hour. The Burn spoke to an emotional Tony Stafford, founder and owner of the Ford’s Fish Shack brand, about how the coronavirus has impacted their operations.

“Every hour, it changes,” Stafford said. “I make a decision and I have to change it because something else happens.”

And Stafford has had to make some tough decisions for Ford’s. In the past six days, revenue at their three Loudoun locations has fallen by a stunning 90 percent.

• This week, Ford’s was forced to lay off 155 hourly employees, including all its waitstaff, bartenders, cooks and dishwashers.
• Stafford says the employees will have their health insurance covered for the next 60 days and each laid off employee can receive a daily free meal during that time.
• Seventeen managers have been kept on “to keep the brand going.”
• The remaining team is assisting staff with applying for unemployment benefits. They’re also trying to check in with them every few days to see if they need help with anything.

“I was in tears,” Stafford said about the layoffs. “I’m fighting back tears right now. To go from what we have built over the past 10 years and then have to take it apart in a week.”

The Ford’s location in Lansdowne has closed its dining room and the Ford’s food truck is parked in front of the restaurant serving carry out food.

The Ford’s locations in Ashburn and South Riding are open for carry out and the dining rooms are open as well, but limited to 10 people at a time, with a maximum dining time of 60 minutes. Happy hour has been eliminated.

Stafford says he hopes to hire back as many of his former employees as possible.

“I’m trying to salvage everything I can so when it gets better — and it will get better — we’re ready to re-open and bring Ford’s back to life,” he said. “Please pray for all small businesses. It is a scary time for us.”