Barstool Fund steps in to help Metro Detroit small businesses impacted by the COVID-19 pandemic

Company has raised more than $20 million

DETROIT – To the uninitiated, Barstool Sports is a sports website full of hot takes and wild videos.

But, if you take a closer look -- you’ll see that it’s more than that. It’s a grassroots movement doing amazing work to help save small businesses during the COVID-19 pandemic.

It’s called the Barstool Fund. So far, the company has raised more than $20 million to help get businesses through. That includes businesses in Metro Detroit.

Joanna McCoy owns The Bomber Restaurant in Ypsilanti. On a typical Friday night the seats would be filled with people -- but because of the pandemic the place is closed. She said she didn’t know what she was going to do.

The restaurant is known for its bomber breakfast. It’s been open for 84 years. McCoy has owned it since 1995. But it was in danger of closing for good when McCoy’s nephew, an avid Barstool Sports fan applied for help from the Barstool Fund.

McCoy got a call on Thursday. Barstool offered the lifeline she needed. Money. It will keep coming from the fund until she doesn’t need it anymore.

Dave Beauchamp owns Champ’s Pub in Brighton got a similar call recently. A younger fan of Barstool Sports applied for him as well. Beauchamp said the money will go toward paying his employees.

McCoy is going to use the money to pay bills. McCoy is now a big fan of Barstool Sports and its founder.

Watch the video above for the full report.

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About the Author:

Jamie anchors sports coverage on Local 4 News Saturdays at 6 & 11 p.m. and Sunday at 6 p.m., in addition to hosting Sports Final Edition.