The staff at Burg Steakhouse in Tennessee were surprised and humbled by a customer’s generosity, not just toward them, but to fellow diners, too. On a typical, busy Saturday at the Gatlinburg restaurant, the man came for lunch then returned for dinner later that evening and left a $1000 tip.
Michele Stanga, co-owner of Burg Steakhouse, says the diner shocked staff with a thousand dollar tip, but that wasn’t all. The man - who wants to remain anonymous - also picked up the check for two other tables. He also shared with staff members that he’s terminally ill and wants to spend the rest of his money on other people with the time he has left. All he asks in return? That people pay it forward.
Head server Ashley Rackstraw says the man told her that spending his final days making people happy makes him wish he had spent all of his life doing that. “I’m just wanting to thank him. Like, all I’m wanting to do is go up to him and give him a hug and tell him ‘thank you. But I also know this changed me. I will be looking for ways to bless people now like he blessed all of us".