Grubhub has introduced the Established 2020 Award, a program aimed at recognizing small-business restaurants in Chicago that opened during the COVID-19 pandemic and have successfully reached their five-year mark in 2025. This initiative is designed to honor restaurateurs who managed to overcome significant challenges during a period marked by closed dining rooms and fluctuating health protocols.
The award is open to small business restaurant owners in Chicago who launched their first brick-and-mortar location in 2020 and continue to operate today. These businesses are eligible for a monetary award intended to be reinvested into their operations. Applications for this program are being accepted until April 18, 2025, with awards set to be presented at an event in June.
Isabel Perman, Director of Client Success at Grubhub, stated, “Chicago’s restaurant owners are some of the toughest, most persistent people out there, and the ones who opened in 2020 have grit and tenacity like no other. They didn’t just survive—they built something lasting."
During the initial stages of the pandemic, Grubhub assisted many restaurants by helping them transition from dine-in models to online ordering and delivery systems. The company also reduced certain diner fees and enhanced marketing efforts to support these businesses. Delivery orders in Chicago increased by 98 percent from 2019 to 2020.
Grubhub established the Grubhub Community Fund (GCF) early on during the pandemic to aid communities and restaurants affected by COVID-19. Since its inception, GCF has distributed over $35 million directly to small-business restaurants nationwide.
Restaurants such as KFire located in Logan Square and Doughboy’s Chicago in Greater Grand Crossing exemplify resilience amid adversity. Both establishments have been acknowledged with Grubhub’s Established 2020 Award for their perseverance.
Ben Kim, Co-owner of KFire, remarked on the difficulties faced: “The pandemic threw every obstacle our way but giving up was never an option.” Nicole Fryison, Co-owner of Doughboy’s Chicago added: “Community has always been a core value... Launching during such a difficult time forced us to get creative.”
Through initiatives like Established 2020 Award, Grubhub continues its commitment to supporting local restaurants while fostering long-term success within Chicago's diverse culinary landscape.