Acts of Kindness
His business was going under then one of his regulars gives him $40k & makes request
Wanting to help his favorite hometown restaurant the anonymous donor called up the restaurant owner and made him a proposition he couldn't refuse.
D.G. Sciortino
06.12.20

Everyone has their favorite local restaurant.

But many of these restaurants were forced to close during the coronavirus pandemic.

While some restaurants were able to stay open to serve take out, it didn’t make final sense for other restaurants to do so with the reduced number of customers.

"An anonymous donor has saved a Florida restaurant that might otherwise have closed for good, due to the coronavirus…

Posted by Compassionate Atlanta onMonday, June 8, 2020

One Florida man couldn’t stand the thought of his favorite hometown restaurant not being open.

“We’re not the million-dollar restaurant on fifth or third but I’m one of the highest-rated restaurants,” Bill Salley, owner of Bill’s Cafe in Naples, told WINK News.

Instead of seeing Bill’s Cafe close, one of the restaurant’s breakfast regulars gave the restaurant $40,000 throughout the coronavirus pandemic to remain afloat.

Posted by Bills Cafe Naples onSunday, May 1, 2016

“And the last day I was open before they forced us to close because of the COVID situation and he goes ‘Bill I’d like to talk to you’,” Salley said.

The man, who wanted to remain anonymous, then handed Bill two envelopes.

Posted by Bills Cafe Naples onMonday, April 13, 2020

“He says listen I have two envelopes for you.. one for you, one for your help. And It was so nice and kind of him, but that probably wouldn’t have saved me. It was a nice chunk of money in that but not enough to make a difference.”

Big announcement!! Bill's Cafe and our new Pantry is re-opening Monday thru Friday, 9am-2pm for To-Go orders!I am…

Posted by Bills Cafe Naples onSunday, April 5, 2020

Not only was Salley scared for his business but also for his employees who counted on the restaurant for a job.

The man called the restaurant about a week later.

“Bill, would you be interested in sending a hundred sandwiches a day across the street to Naples community hospital,” the anonymous customer asked.

Wow!! Today is our 6 year Anniversary!!I have enjoyed every minute of it and want to thank everyone who has come through our doors. Here is looking forward to many more.

Posted by Bills Cafe Naples onFriday, March 13, 2020

Salley immediately said “yes.”

The deal was that the cafe would make 100 sandwiches each day and the customer would pay full price for them and they would be given to the hospital.

“That last day of work, we weren’t planning on coming back until everything reopened,” waitress Andrea Gianello said.

Posted by Bills Cafe Naples onThursday, February 20, 2020

“It felt good that someone genuinely cared about the community to come out and help, and help the nurses and the doctors.”

Salley had faith that things would work out and the pandemic wouldn’t completely destroy his business.

He was really relieved that things worked out because someone loved his restaurant that much.

Posted by Bills Cafe Naples onThursday, February 20, 2020

“This definitely could have put me under,” he said. “As it worked out, it literally saved my cafe.”

In total, the anonymous donor ended up spending about $40,000 at Bill’s Café.

Posted by Bills Cafe Naples onFriday, June 20, 2014

But not all restaurants in Naples were as lucky as Bill’s Café.

“‘We are one that did get saved but there are so many others in Naples that are going under right now just because they can’t keep up,” she said.

Posted by Bills Cafe Naples onTuesday, March 3, 2020

Apparently, the result of Salley’s good fortune was a result of his good deeds.

A video on John Huffman’s Facebook page explains that Huffman would often see Salley’s restaurant feeding homeless people in the area every single day.

So, Huffman shouted him out on social media a while back where it ended up going viral.




The internet recognition caused Bill’s Café to gain a lot of new customers.

The anonymous donor ended up being one of those new customers who turned into a regular.

But Huffman doesn’t take credit for what happened. He says it was all God’s doing. Learn more about how Bill’s Café was saved during the pandemic by the kindness of strangers in the video below.

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