Founding Farmers
 | |
| Company type | Private |
|---|---|
| Industry | Restaurants |
| Founded | Washington, D.C, restaurant (2008) |
| Founders | Michael Vucurevich & Dan Simons |
| Headquarters | |
Number of locations | 8 restaurants |
Key people | Michael Vucurevich & Dan Simons, Co-Owners Mark Watne, Owner, Investor Joe Goetze, Head Chef |
Number of employees | 1,200 |
| Website | wearefoundingfarmers |
Founding Farmers is an American upscale-casual restaurant owned by the North Dakota Farmers Union and Farmers Restaurant Group (FRG). The restaurant was founded in 2008 when Farmers Restaurant Group co-owners Dan Simons and Michael Vucurevich partnered with the North Dakota Farmers Union to open the flagship Founding Farmers on Pennsylvania Avenue in Washington, D.C.[1]
History
[edit]In 2005, members of the North Dakota Farmers Union (NDFU) were interested in developing a restaurant where guests could have access to, and benefit from, food grown, raised, and harvested on American family farms. They also wanted to bring awareness to American family farmers and help farmers earn a larger share of the food dollar.[2] The NDFU first started a restaurant called Agraria, which failed due to numerous factors.[3] The NDFU partnered with restaurant consulatants Dan Simons and Michael Vucurevich to open the first of their restaurants, Founding Farmers DC, in 2008.[4] In 2013, Founding Farmers published a cookbook with 100 of their menu items.[5]
Founding Farmers restaurants were sued in 2017 for overtime and wage violations. The lawsuit alleged they had employees work at different restaurants to get around having to pay overtime wages, had to share tips with managers, denied sick leave, and required employees to attend meetings without being paid.[6] Founding Farmers denied the accusation but agreed to pay up to $1.49 million to settle the lawsuit.[7] Since opening Founding Farmers DC in 2008, FRG has opened 7 other locations in DC, Maryland, Virginia, and Pennsylvania.[8]
Reviews
[edit]Travel and Leisure Magazine named Founding Farmers "The Best Farm-To-Table" in Washington, D.C.[9] In 2015, Founding Farmers gained recognition in the New York Times for their inclusive gender-neutral restrooms.[10] In early 2011, Chef Robert Irvine discussed Founding Farmers' Devilish-Eggs on Food Network's "The Best Thing I Ever Ate".[11] In June 2016, popular food critic Tom Sietsema reviewed Founding Farmers in The Washington Post, giving the restaurant a 0-star rating.[12] Founding Farmers sets the DC Record for Number of Yelp Reviews[13]
References
[edit]- ^ Tonneson, Lon (October 2008). "Around Dakota Ag" (PDF) – via Dakota Farmer.com.
- ^ "When farmers own restaurants". Restaurant Hospitality. January 19, 2018. Retrieved August 28, 2023.
- ^ "North Dakota Farmers Union opens restaurants in D.C." Mason City Globe Gazette. Retrieved December 19, 2016.
- ^ Spiegel, Anna (July 7, 2015). "The Farmers Restaurant Group Announces a New $7 Million Project: Farmers & Distillers". Washingtonian. Retrieved November 8, 2016.
- ^ Frederick, Missy (December 19, 2012). "Founding Farmers to Release a Cookbook". Eater DC. Retrieved November 8, 2016.
- ^ "Founding Farmers restaurants are accused of wage and overtime violations - The Washington Post". The Washington Post. Archived from the original on June 9, 2017.
- ^ "Founding Farmers restaurant group settles wage case for $1.49M". Archived from the original on June 27, 2025.
- ^ "Founding Farmers heading to greater Philadelphia at King of Prussia Town Center - Washington Business Journal". Washington Business Journal. Retrieved November 8, 2016.
- ^ "The Best Farm-to-Table Restaurant in Every State". Travel + Leisure. Retrieved November 8, 2016.
- ^ Ball, Aimee Lee (November 5, 2015). "In All-Gender Restrooms, the Signs Reflect the Times". The New York Times. ISSN 0362-4331. Retrieved November 8, 2016.
- ^ "Founding Farmers on Food Network Monday - Washington Business Journal". Washington Business Journal. Retrieved November 8, 2016.
- ^ Sietsema, Tom (June 1, 2016). "Founding Farmers review: Zero stars for the mega-popular D.C. eatery". The Washington Post. ISSN 0190-8286. Retrieved November 8, 2016.
- ^ "Founding Farmers Sets DC Record For Number of Yelp Reviews". Washingtonian. January 11, 2018. Retrieved April 16, 2018.