To say that was unsustainable is an understatement. Spencer needed a dramatic shift in her business model to stay afloat.
"What about starting a movement that would feed families in need and give jobs to my employees?" Spencer thought.
Gather Kitchen also offers an $8 "Feed Our Heroes" option, where every meal sold is delivered to a Dallas hospital.
In the first week, she sold 1,500 meals.
"This is allowing me to keep my employees and give them full pay for at least this month," Spencer said. "I feel very proud, really, really proud and happy to say that."
And this experience for the native of North Africa has caused her to seriously consider taking Gather Kitchen in a new direction once the COVID-19 crisis is over.
"Now I'm getting this idea of making my entire restaurant a non-profit potentially, and just feed people," says Spencer.
"I'm going to make it a passion...a life mission."
