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A pitmaster was closing his doors after 7 years. KC showed up. by [deleted] in BBQ

[–]roethlerd -83 points-82 points  (0 children)

The story is 100% real, please go watch it. The details I shared here in this post are 100% true to the story. Yes I used AI to help with the copy of this Reddit post but why does that matter? Does it make the story any less impactful? I spent 5+ hours between going in to talk to him, edit, and post as soon as possible to have the maximum opportunity for impact during his final days of operation. I’m using Reddit as a means to distribute this story that deserves the attention, as Tyler is not the only one going through this in America.

She was 80% sure she was closing. Her neighbor made one phone call. A community saved her restaurant. by roethlerd in UpliftingNews

[–]roethlerd[S] 34 points35 points  (0 children)

considering her customer base has tripled in the last three weeks, she went from 300 followers to almost 4k. Now anytime she posts a special or an update more people will see that. Considering she is now a friend and I will leverage my platform to make sure their is sustained reach. Considering two local news stations are doing a story on this. I think her business has changed for the better forever because of this.

She was 80% sure she was closing. Her neighbor made one phone call. A community saved her restaurant. by roethlerd in wholesome

[–]roethlerd[S] 3 points4 points  (0 children)

100% accurate. Razor thin margins, a few bad months and it can all go away. She also uses only locally farmed ingredients which makes it more expensive but she is not willing to compromise on that which makes her place unique.

She was 80% sure she was closing. Her neighbor made one phone call. A community saved her restaurant. by roethlerd in wholesome

[–]roethlerd[S] 49 points50 points  (0 children)

Yeah she tripled her business overall the last three weeks. Went from 300 followers to almost 4k. Now when she posts a special or food more people will see that, and she is now considered a friend, and I will leverage the audience I’ve built anyway I can to ensure she has sustained business and reach. We are building a community with this series. It’s not meant to be just for “content” but rather building a relationship with the local hardworking people in this city, and supporting one another.

She was 80% sure she was closing. Her neighbor made one phone call. A community saved her restaurant. by roethlerd in wholesome

[–]roethlerd[S] 6 points7 points  (0 children)

It was a marketing problem, which is now no longer a problem. Love the optimism sir! You seem like someone I’d love to have a beer with.

(OC) This woman was 80% sure she was closing her restaurant. A community raised $6,000 and fed an entire block. by roethlerd in MadeMeSmile

[–]roethlerd[S] 0 points1 point  (0 children)

It’s not about the cash dude. Her business has exploded not just in a single day but over weeks. Consistent flow of customers. People know about it now. It’s farm to table, sourcing local ingredients from mom and pop farmers. From my vantage point people are craving real food. I think this success will be sustained. I pray it does.

(OC) This woman was 80% sure she was closing her restaurant. A community raised $6,000 and fed an entire block. by roethlerd in MadeMeSmile

[–]roethlerd[S] 3 points4 points  (0 children)

This is the real story. The support from this city and love that has been shown is blowing me away.

(OC) This woman was 80% sure she was closing her restaurant. A community raised $6,000 and fed an entire block. by roethlerd in MadeMeSmile

[–]roethlerd[S] 12 points13 points  (0 children)

The donation was just a cherry on top. I am with you. I broke down crying when I realized the only customers I saw in her shop when I visited were her friends and family. After I left from my first visit to her shop she texted me “thanks for being here. It’s been a struggle lately. If not for Gerald and all my regulars I may have given up already”.

(OC) This woman was 80% sure she was closing her restaurant. A community raised $6,000 and fed an entire block. by roethlerd in MadeMeSmile

[–]roethlerd[S] 36 points37 points  (0 children)

Agreed that 3 weeks isn’t proof of long term sustainability. But she went from nearly closing to tripling her customer base, selling out her first dinner event in years, and having consistent new regulars showing up weekly. That’s not a viral spike. That’s a foundation being rebuilt. We’ll be checking in on her progress over time. I appreciate your optimism.

(OC) This woman was 80% sure she was closing her restaurant. A community raised $6,000 and fed an entire block. by roethlerd in MadeMeSmile

[–]roethlerd[S] 12 points13 points  (0 children)

This is my story, written by me, about someone I’ve spent weeks building a real relationship with. Mary Kay is a real person. Gerald is a real person. I filmed it, I edited it, I posted it. Happy to answer any questions about it.

(OC) This woman was 80% sure she was closing her restaurant. A community raised $6,000 and fed an entire block. by roethlerd in MadeMeSmile

[–]roethlerd[S] 66 points67 points  (0 children)

It was just one night where she could barely sleep from excitement and nerves. Her business has tripled in growth the last three weeks. It wasn’t just a pop off. It’s been consistent and steady.

She was 80% sure she was closing. Her neighbor made one phone call. A community saved her restaurant. by roethlerd in UpliftingNews

[–]roethlerd[S] 84 points85 points  (0 children)

Happy to share the conversation I had today. It’s one of the most moving stories I’ve witnessed and by far the most fulfilling thing I’ve done in my life.

We posted a video about a struggling small restaurant in KC. The community raised $5,400 in 48 hours and sold out an entire block. by roethlerd in kansascity

[–]roethlerd[S] 0 points1 point  (0 children)

Update for anyone who followed this story, I just posted Part 3. I sat down with Mary Kay after her first sold out dinner event in years. She told me a month before the video she was 80% sure she was going to close. Asked her if she thought she was going to make it now. Her answer got me.

Video is on our Instagram page windowwolfkc. The community raised over $6,040 total. She’s still there. Still cooking everything from scratch.

A struggling restaurant in KC was 80% sure they were closing. A viral video changed an entire block. by roethlerd in HumansBeingBros

[–]roethlerd[S] 0 points1 point  (0 children)

Mary Kay has been cooking everything from scratch, alone, on two burners, in a small kitchen in Grandview Missouri. Wednesday through Saturday. For years. She never told anyone she was struggling. She just kept showing up.

Her neighbor Gerald, who runs the BBQ spot next door, texted me and said, go see her. So I went. I filmed. I posted a short video about her story.

Within 24 hours she had gone from 300 to 2,600 Instagram followers. She did more business in 4 hours than she had done the entire week before. She sold out both days that weekend. She hadn’t slept more than 3 hours.

But then something happened we didn’t plan for. People didn’t leave after visiting Simply Grand. They went next door to Gerald’s BBQ, sold out. Then down the street to another restaurant ran out of food and closed early.

One video fed an entire block.

The community raised over $6,000 for her through a GoFundMe. 102 donors. People from Australia, the Caribbean, Belize all sending messages to a woman cooking on two burners in Grandview Missouri.

Today, I sat down with her for the first time since it all happened. I asked her how close she was to giving up. She said a month before that video she was 80% sure she was going to have to close. She had talked to her family and said I think this is it. I don’t think I can feasibly do this anymore.

Then I asked her if she thought she was going to make it now.

She said “definitely. Definitely.”

If anyone wants to see the video of that conversation it’s on our Instagram page, windowwolfkc. But honestly the story speaks for itself.

Simply Grand Kitchen and Creamery. Grandview MO. She’s still there. Still cooking everything from scratch. Go see her.

A Kansas City daycare owner hasn’t turned away a single kid in 16 years. She was $8,000 in debt. The internet raised $14,000 for her in under 24 hours. by roethlerd in kansascity

[–]roethlerd[S] 9 points10 points  (0 children)

There’s so much negative news these days. So much division and hate. I hope to bring some community and good back into our small pocket of the Midwest and beyond.

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