
5

"An L.A.-based national fast-casual salad chain returned a $10 million Paycheck Protection Program loan after facing criticism that the program was funneling funds to larger companies while many small restaurants went without. The founders said they were approved for the loan but learned the program had run out of money and that small-business peers had not received aid, so they chose to return the funds; the company had planned to use 100% of the loan to pay restaurant staff and rehire furloughed team members. The brand began by selling sub-$20 salad bowls in the Washington, D.C. area, later moved its headquarters to Culver City, and was valued at about $1 billion in 2018." - Farley Elliott