By Tyler Barth
The Glenbrook Brewery certainly wasn’t expecting to make national news within weeks of its opening.
But that’s what happened earlier this month, when a disgruntled customer, peeved by a time limit inside the Revolutionary War-themed Morristown brew pub, left his server no tip on an $86 tab.
It became The Stiff Heard Round the World when a friend of the staff posted a photo online of the bill, which bore the patron’s scribbled admonition: “Don’t kick paying customers out after 90 minutes.”
Like Minutemen (and Women) from yesteryear, the community rallied around the waitress, raising about $2,000 in the time it takes to down a growler.
“It’s indescribable, the kindness, and the generosity, it’s just beautiful!” said the woman, who asked only to be identified as Beth.
The fund drive was commanded by Jeff Haag of the Morristown Stimulus Facebook group.
“This is not an irregular occurrence,” he said of the tip refusal. ”We’ve stressed throughout this entire (pandemic), make sure you’re tipping properly. At a minimum you should be paying 20 percent.”
“It happens more than you think,” Beth said about the no tip. “People just don’t bring attention to it. It happens all the time.”
Like many COVID-challenged establishments, the Glenbrook Brewery has imposed time limits because of 50-percent capacity restrictions.
Morristown Stimulus members include many small business owners from Greater Morristown and beyond. Haag reposted the photo to take their pulse. If anyone shares the disgruntled customer’s beliefs, he said, “they don’t belong in my group.”
Donors included a doctor who sent $200.
“They really just poured in,” Haag said of the contributions. “It was pretty intense actually,”
New York TV stations picked up the story, which spread far and wide over the internet.
While the publicity has not boosted business appreciably–Governor Murphy’s capacity limits remain the same–it has generated sympathy, according to Glenbrook co-owner Darren Cregan.
“If anything, the people that have in come are more aware of our situation and are understanding,” he said.
Beth, who works at the brewery to supplement her income as a nurse, plans on keeping the money she was owed for a tip, giving her co-workers the same amount, and giving the rest to the needy. She hasn’t decided which organization.
She declined to pose for photos.
“In the end, it’s all about the brewery!” Beth said.
As for the man who set all this off, he is welcome back to the Brewery– if he follows proper guidelines, said Cregan. However, there’s one caveat.
“An apology would go a long way.”
Made me weepy-good story.