A neighborhood restaurant provided more than food during the winter storm, helping stranded drivers and making new friends. Here's this week's KRLD Difference Maker.
While most restaurants closed their doors during the winter ice storm, a few, including Dodies on Greenville stayed open. Dodie's owner Eric Schultze was a little concerned about business during the incoming winter storm, but he said the safety of his employees was even more important.
"I told all of them if they couldn't get in then don't risk it," Eric said. "I told them I'd cover all the shifts if necessary."
He had help from one of his bartenders, Melissa, who lives nearby and walked to work the first day. They carpooled for the next several days, just the two of them working the dining room and business was better than expected.
"Everybody likes eating gumbo when it's cold," Eric said.
And it's no surprise their gumbo is one of their best sellers, with recipes from the 1880's directly from New Orleans and made from scratch everyday.
Along with serving dozens of customers, Eric even made time to help two stranded people stuck on the ice.
"One of my regulars, Jason, came in and said there are some people stuck on the ice and they need help," Eric said.
A truck was stuck and couldn't get any traction. Despite having his hands full with a full restaurant, Eric made time to come outside, fill several buckets with hot water and bring salt outside to help get the stranded truck out of the way.
"Then I invited him and his lady in for lunch and they came in and had a great time," Eric said.
He says helping people is just part of how he was raised.
"I saw my dad do it all the time. He wouldn't stop what he was doing to help a stranger in need and that's the way I am. I got it from him and my mom. If someone needs help, I'm going to help them," Eric said. "It worked out! They got their truck unstuck and came in and had lunch and I met some new people and made new friends."
Now he has new loyal customers for life.
We're proud to call Eric Schultze and Dodies this week's KRLD Difference Makers.
"This community, they support us and we support them," Eric said. "We love them for it and we always will."
If you know someone making a difference in the community, send us an email at differencemaker@krld.com.
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