Giant Eagle hires unemployed workers from Pittsburgh Penguins arena and Primanti Bros.

Employees from Pittsburgh-based restaurant chain Primanti Bros. and the PPG Paints Arena, home to the Pittsburgh Penguins hockey team, have been invited to apply for jobs at Giant Eagle supermarkets. Like other restaurants, COVID-19 restrictions have forced Primanti Bros. to close locations or limit service to takeout and delivery, and the arena has stopped foodservice operations completely as the hockey season has been put on hold. As a result, many workers in the area are jobless.

Giant Eagle has formed partnerships with both these operations to hire some of their displaced workers. With groceries in high demand, the supermarket chain is looking to place hundreds of people across numerous areas of its business, including in its stores, at its warehouse facilities and as truck drivers.

“We have a well-trained, loyal and hard-working arena workforce, and we are happy to provide priority job opportunities to help them and their families during this time of need,” Penguins CEO David Morehouse said in a statement. “We worked closely with our operations partners, ASM Global and Aramark, and our service workers union leaders to help provide these jobs to over 700 arena employees.”