No one’s retreating right here.
A Lengthy Island hen store owned by a former “Who Needs to be a Millionaire” contestant staved off closure because of a viral social media SOS – and a stunning increase from a rival eatery.
“I laid all of it out in some native Fb teams,” Josh Gatewood, proprietor of Yankee Doodle Dandy’s in Islip and Babylon, informed The Publish.
“I wrote, ‘I can both shut my shops, or I can come to the group for assist.”
“It went completely viral, 1000’s of individuals began speaking about it…now we’re making extra in a single day than now we have prior to now in weeks,” stated the 40-year-old Maspeth resident, who received $25,000 on “Who Needs to Be a Millionaire” in 2012 then used the dough to open a New York Metropolis meals truck model of the shop in 2013.
Michael Landesberg, the proprietor of fashionable East Islip eatery Jackson Corridor, who noticed the last-ditch plea on-line and jumped into assist the rival restaurant.
“I’ve all the time believed it’s not a contest; it’s camaraderie,” Landesberg, 50, stated.
“It’s not good to see individuals fail.”
He acted rapidly and posted a contest on-line, awarding $1,000 in Jackson Corridor reward playing cards to anybody who confirmed proof they’d eaten at Yankee Doodle, named for Gatewood’s ancestors who fought within the American Revolution.
“Quickly after I did that, tons of different companies reached out and donated their very own,” Landesberg added.
“Islip is without doubt one of the strongest communities I’ve seen.”
By Wednesday afternoon, he had raised over $3,000 in reward playing cards for native meat markets, magnificence merchandise, auto repairs, a bridal store and even mosquito elimination service.
They’re able to be randomly distributed to Yankee Doodle patrons this Friday.
“He’s been an angel on my shoulder,” added Gatewood, who stated he’s additionally susceptible to being evicted from his Queens dwelling.
“I’d be carried out already with out him.”
Landesberg, who had by no means tried the succulent hen earlier than getting concerned, touts himself as all the time beneficiant.
Nevertheless, one thing 4 years in the past impressed him to go far above and past.
“I used to be identified with male breast most cancers and was given a yr to reside,” he stated.
“I vowed that if I recovered due to all of the assist strangers had proven me, I’d use my life to return the favor,” the now-cancer-free chef added.
For the reason that SOS, troves of first-time prospects are popping into Yankee Doodle and telling workers, “Michael despatched me.”
“He informed me, ‘You gotta are available; the meals is superior,” newcomer Gayle McGuickan of Islip Terrace stated whereas raving about her “Winner Winner” meal of 4 hen tenders for lunch.
The poultry boss is optimistic that “it’s wanting like we’re not going to get knocked down once more.”
‘Within the battle’
Gatewood, a lover of “Rocky,” after whom he named his younger son, is aware of lots about being on the ropes.
He was a pointy enterprise govt dwelling in an expensive Atlanta penthouse till he adopted his then-girlfriend to New York in 2012, hoping to land a job with Goldman Sachs.
As an alternative, the grasp’s diploma holder briefly labored for a cutthroat Wall Avenue agency he likened to the Vin Diesel film “Boiler Room” earlier than promoting cowboy hats in a vacationer lure on Walker Avenue after a breakup.
Flat broke, Gatewood wound up on an air mattress in his little sister’s Knoxville condominium and frying hen at a Zaxby’s off campus from the College of Tennessee.
It grew to become the silver lining that taught the self-proclaimed “Slumdog Millionaire of Queens” how you can run his spot.
“That first weekend I used to be down there, I acquired the decision I had made it on ‘Who Need to Be a Millionaire’ after 5 tries. Each time it seemed like I used to be carried out in life, a miracle had occurred,” Gatewood stated.
“It’s not over but, however we’re within the battle, because of all people. I didn’t know a lot about Lengthy Island at first, however the individuals listed here are actually one thing.”
