TULSA, Okla. — Local businesses and restaurants are doing what they can to stay open right now and pay their staff. We’re talking to them in our series “We’re Open Green Country.”
Local restaurants are stepping up amid the pandemic.
“I delivered some wings, fries and two rolls of toilet paper the other day," said Travis Davidson, owner of Treys Bar and Grill.
Treys Bar and Grill in South Tulsa is serving customers food and delivering groceries. Davidson, who also owns the Cardinal Club, said they have about 40 employees. They plan to make sure everyone gets a paycheck.
“I’m not going to lay anybody off because I’ve got single mothers, I’ve got single fathers, I’ve got expecting mothers," he said.
Manager Keyla Rivas is expecting her child in August. She’s hard at work taking orders and delivering them to customers curbside. She said she’s worried about her stepson who has asthma and paying the bills.
“Not only just rent," she said. "But I’ve got car insurance, my utility bills among a lot of other things. So, I’m kinda really trying to stretch it. Kinda stretch what I can make and kind of really divide if I’m going to pay rent, or should I hold off a little bit longer on my water bill.”
Rivas said employees are splitting shifts so everyone can get some hours.
“I know that I’m not the only one that’s having to pay rent or is struggling to buy groceries as well," she said. "Because, you know, not all of us can afford to buy in bulk. You buy what you need, your essentials, and you kind of go from there.”
Davidson started a GoFundMe to help keep paying employees as if they’re busy. He's also putting in $1,000 of his own money to help out. He said they’ve seen a lot of support from the community.
“We’ve had people tipping quite well," he said. "A lot of them tipping quite well on the deliveries. People asking what they can do. I’ve had a lot of people ask me, 'Hey, do you need an extra delivery driver? You know, I don’t have anything to do during the days, you know.' I’m like can you hand me a box of gloves and I’ll get to it.”
Treys Bar and Grill is also personally delivering meals to customers.
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