Advertisement
‘I thought it was a mistake’: Anonymous customer leaves $16,000 tip at New Hampshire restaurant
Customer’s bill came to $37.93
Updated: 6:58 AM EDT Jun 22, 2021
The staff at a New Hampshire restaurant got a big surprise from a customer, a tip they could barely believe.A customer came into the Stumble Inn Bar and Grill in Londonderry and ordered a couple chili dogs, fried pickle chips and drinks. The tab, with tax, was $37.93 before he added a $16,000 tip. At first, the staff didn’t notice it.“It was on the credit card statement, they put it down next to the register and he said three times, ‘Don’t spend it all in one place.’ That’s what made her flip it over and look, and she’s like, ‘Oh my god, are you serious?’ And he said, ‘I want you to have it, you guys work hard,” owner Mike Zarella said.The eight bartenders working contacted the owner.“I thought it was a mistake, it could have been maybe a $160 tip and he added extra zeros,” Zarella said. “The bar manager talked to the gentleman and he said, ‘No, it’s $16,000.’”The big tipper wants to stay anonymous. Sister station WMUR was told he is not a regular. “He just said that they deserve it, they work very hard,” Zarella said. Related video: Good Samaritans helping restaurants during the pandemicThe Stumble Inn closed for a few months during the pandemic, adjusted with take-out and outdoor dining. Like so many restaurants, it was a challenge for the staff and they are paying it forward to their fellow employees in the back of the house.“The back of the house works really hard, the kitchen, they’re giving them a big tip out of that, which is very generous of them to do,” Zarella said.He said every tip is appreciated, but this one is the biggest in the history of the business.“Oh yeah, maybe to date, maybe there will be a bigger one for the staff, who knows,” Zarella said.
The staff at a New Hampshire restaurant got a big surprise from a customer, a tip they could barely believe.
A customer came into the Stumble Inn Bar and Grill in Londonderry and ordered a couple chili dogs, fried pickle chips and drinks. The tab, with tax, was $37.93 before he added a $16,000 tip. At first, the staff didn’t notice it.
Advertisement
“It was on the credit card statement, they put it down next to the register and he said three times, ‘Don’t spend it all in one place.’ That’s what made her flip it over and look, and she’s like, ‘Oh my god, are you serious?’ And he said, ‘I want you to have it, you guys work hard,” owner Mike Zarella said.
The eight bartenders working contacted the owner.
“I thought it was a mistake, it could have been maybe a $160 tip and he added extra zeros,” Zarella said. “The bar manager talked to the gentleman and he said, ‘No, it’s $16,000.’”
The big tipper wants to stay anonymous. Sister station WMUR was told he is not a regular.
“He just said that they deserve it, they work very hard,” Zarella said.
Related video: Good Samaritans helping restaurants during the pandemic
The Stumble Inn closed for a few months during the pandemic, adjusted with take-out and outdoor dining. Like so many restaurants, it was a challenge for the staff and they are paying it forward to their fellow employees in the back of the house.
“The back of the house works really hard, the kitchen, they’re giving them a big tip out of that, which is very generous of them to do,” Zarella said.
He said every tip is appreciated, but this one is the biggest in the history of the business.
“Oh yeah, maybe to date, maybe there will be a bigger one for the staff, who knows,” Zarella said.
