Facebook Post From Red Gravy Owner Regarding Business

"Brace yourselves, folks, this is from our collective hearts. First, thank you to everyone who has always supported Red Gravy with your continued visits and great reviews. Second, I promise to oversee every single staff member, personally. If I even suspect they might be under the weather, I will assess if that staff member needs to be home, recuperating. I promise I will not let any staff member work sick. I promise you.
Third, I am scared. It's not easy for me to say that. We're a small house, really small. Most of my staff has been with me for 5-7 years. We're tight, and worried for each other. We've lost St. Patrick's weekend. We've lost the Women's basketball. Those two things alone are like being closed for a full month, yet still paying all the salaries, utilities, food vendors, etc. We are going to feel this, immediately. If you recall, we lost Mother's Day last year, due to flooding inside the restaurant. It took us 5 months to recover from the loss of that one day. These cancellations and closures and postponements are going to have catastrophic results to us, and every single other person that is associated with the hospitality industry. There is no point in dancing around the bush...if we lose French Quarter Festival and Jazz Fest, you may as well stick a fork in most of us, because we could all be done. Red Gravy could easily lose 1/4 of our yearly sales income. I have had meetings with my staff, we are bracing ourselves, but, honestly, how do you swim when the waves don't stop crashing and you can't get your head up for air?
I don't have financial backers, never have. I sold my house so I could do this. I've never been in debt, but I don't have another house to sell. It is my sincerest wish that, if the worse that could happen, does, and we lose those festivals, please, don't forget us, and don't forget all your other favourite restaurants, bars, shops, etc.
I consider myself a very proud woman, and if you've ever met me, you know this is true. I know what we built here, with love, sweat, and tears. I don't want anything to get in the way of us living our best lives out loud, dancing in the streets and drinking and eating way too much. This current situation is way more than just an inconvenience of not getting to go to a parade or concert or game. Things people have built are in serious danger of blowing away.
You know I'm not a religious woman, unless you count all the times I say 'goddammit'. But my brothers and sisters in the service industry, and my staff, and my friends...we all are hoping for your light, love and best wishes. Burn the sage, chant the mantra, offer the virgin sacrifices, slit the throats...do whatever you believe in. Do it for us, please. We are in this business because we love it. Please, we might need a little help in the very near future."

This is a link to the FB page.
LINK

Sadly, this is true of many restaurants and businesses.