ST. PETERSBURG, Fla. -- It’s not every day a restaurant owner comes up to you in the parking lot offering free food, but then again, these aren’t normal times.
- The Burg Diner offering free pancakes every Wed & Thurs from 9am-12pm
- Diner located at 2950 49th St N, St. Petersburg
“I just wanted to offer some comfort, someone that wants some kind of breakfast,” said Bill Georgiou, owner of The Burg Diner.
And Georgiou isn’t a normal guy.
“Billy has done stuff like this on a smaller scale for personal people who are sick or in the hospital. I’ve seen him give away food, make generous donations throughout the community so I’m not surprised,” said customer and former employee Rachel Webb.
Every Wednesday and Thursday since the governor ordered all restaurants to close their dining rooms, Georgiou still heats up his griddle.
“I had all this extra pancake mix because I ordered it for the season, I thought we would be open in March, and next thing you know, I was like, ‘I’ve got to do something,’” said Georgiou.
So he decided to offer the community the ultimate comfort food — free of charge.
“I think it’s super important for me, I have two kids and we’re homeschooling so it seems minimal but to make breakfast, lunch, and dinner, three meals a day plus snacks, when you can go pick up some free pancakes for your kids, it’s huge,” said Webb.
“It’s beautiful, it’s beautiful, the only thing I can tell that man is ‘God bless you,’” said customer Salvatore Spitaleri.
And Georgiou says he hopes people take away more than just a hot meal.
“To be stronger as a community, we’re all in this together. It doesn’t matter who or what you are. It’s like we all have got to keep on going and figure out a way past this,” said Georgiou.
He says he plans to serve the pancakes every Wednesday and Thursday from nine until noon until he is able to reopen.
All tips go straight to his employees.