Staff members at the Mason Jar Cafe in Benton Harbor, Michigan, were left speechless when they discovered a jaw-dropping $10,000 tip on a recent bill, a gesture that warmed hearts and sparked gratitude across the restaurant.
And it turns out that there was an incredibly heartbreaking reason behind the generous gift.
Tim Sweeney, the manager of Mason Jar Cafe, expressed his astonishment at the unexpected act of kindness. "Typically, we’ll see every now and then $100 [tips], but not ever anything of this gratitude or magnitude," he shared with The Hill.
The extraordinary tip was left by a patron known only as Mark, who visited the restaurant two Mondays ago. Mark's generosity extended to leaving a 30,835% tip on his modest $32.43 tab, leaving Sweeney in a state of "absolute disbelief" when he saw the receipt.
Upon learning of the immense tip, Sweeney sought out Mark to express his gratitude and curiosity about the generous gesture. "We went back and forth. I had a conversation with him. He wanted to proceed," Sweeney recounted.
It was during this conversation that Mark revealed the poignant reason behind his extraordinary gift. Waitress Paige Mulick shared Mark's heartfelt revelation, stating, "It was in memory of a friend who had recently passed and he was in town for the funeral."
Mulick emphasized the profound impact of Mark's act of kindness, describing it as touching the lives of many within the community. The restaurant decided to distribute the generous tip among its staff members, with each receiving a share amounting to a little over $1,100.
As a recent college graduate grappling with student loans, Mulick expressed her gratitude for the unexpected windfall, especially recognizing the hard work of her colleagues, many of whom are dedicated mothers. "We work hard. We know that some days you’re going to make more and some days you’re going to make less," she reflected.
In the wake of Mark's extraordinary act, the staff at Mason Jar Cafe emphasized the profound impact of kindness, affirming that even the smallest gestures can make a significant difference in the lives of others.
In other tipping news, employees of a coffee shop in Utah have been left divided after the owner decided to eliminate tipping altogether and introduce higher salaries instead.
The debate surrounding tipping culture is never-ending as many people see it as a way of rewarding staff for exceptionally good service, as well as helping them with their wages as their salary often isn't enough to support a reasonable standard of living.
As the ongoing commotion has become a massive topic in the US, the owner of Three Pines Coffee in Salt Lake City has revealed that he has thrown the rule book out of the window to make it easier for customers.
"Since when are we tipping for everything? I definitely feel tipping fatigue,” Nick Price told KUTV.
Price explained that the shop is busier in the summer, but slower in the winter, therefore it's difficult for his staff to count the tips they have earned throughout the year.
