Photo: fizkes / iStock / Getty Images
A longtime customer of Schooners restaurant in Peoria Heights, Illinois, recently showed the staff how much he cares for them when he gifted the 30 employees $1-thousand each. The heartwarming gesture, meant to honor the memory of the man's late wife and daughter, deeply moved the staff, who describe the donor as someone who sees the restaurant as a second home, and its employees as family.
The generous patron didn’t want his name shared, but he’s been a familiar face at Schooners for more than 15 years and is personal friends with many of the staff. Brad Gebhards, whose family owns the restaurant, was shocked and initially told the man that the gesture was too much, but he insisted.
Although no one at Schooners expected the generous donation, employees like bartender Bri Davis weren’t that surprised because they know the regular customer as a friendly and helpful man, who as Davis says, is “fun to be around.” In a post to social media, Schooners shares that the kind customer is by no means rich, but has a “kind heart and matching smile.” They also thank their friend for the donation and for the memories they’ve made together.
Read more from the Peoria Journal Star HERE.