Zebbie Carney, CEO and founder of Eugene’s Hot Chicken, joins Carrie this week on The Localist to discuss how Zebbie is adapting both his restaurant and food truck to deal with the pandemic. Zebbie and Carrie start off discussing how he and his crew have pivoted their food truck strategy, how their sales have been affected after losing a huge portion of foot traffic, and how Zebbie has prepared his staff to follow the ever-changing safety guidelines. Zebbie has worked with several nonprofits to donate meals to hospital staff, and tells us how that process works. Zebbie and Carrie discuss staffing during these crazy times, working in a kitchen while wearing a mask, and how they’ve changed the menu offerings at Eugene’s. Zebbie talks about the impressive creativity he’s seen from other local businesses, and the value of the barter system.  Zebbie and Carrie wrap up with the lessons they’ve learned so far during this pandemic, and Zebbie settles the debate on whether or not he actually brought hot chicken to Birmingham. 

Mentioned in this episode: 

Eugene’s Hot Chicken 

Eugene’s Hot Chicken on Instagram 

Rev Birmingham

Rev Birmingham - The Big Pitch 

Church Street Coffee and Books 

Uptown Birmingham 

BJCC 

BHM Cares

Care Health Community

Frontline Foods

Pardis and Frank Stitt 

Ghost Train Brewing

Dread River Distillery

Waitr

Yellowhammer Local series tshirts