Local cafe owner lends a helping hand

It’s not rare for a person to find themselves in dire straits. However, what some may consider rare is a community willing to help those who find themselves there. Houston County is one of those rare communities.

Recently, there was a break-in at Lieu’s on the Go, whose mission, according to their website, is to “serve and provide the best authentic Chinese food to our customer,” maintaining that authentic flavor while it is served hot and fast. The burglar damaged the front door, and broken glass was strewn everywhere. The small “mom and pop Chinese restaurant” as they call themselves, was forced to close their doors for the day to clean up the mess left for them sometime the night before.

However, the story here isn’t the crime. Instead, it is of Rikki Waite, a fellow owner and operator of another local restaurant, My Grandma’s Empanadas, in Warner Robins.

Waite and the rest of the My Grandmas Empanadas family have been operating in our community since 2015, serving guests hand crafted meals with locally sourced ingredients between 10 a.m. and 2 p.m. every day save Sunday. When Waite heard of Bob Su’s, the owner and operator of Lieu’s on the Go, plight, it was a different form of hospitality she decided to serve.

Unless Waite is doing works of charity, her business doesn’t take tips. However, after reading about Su’s hardship, she opened up the tip function in her computer system, and took tips offered by customers, collecting over $400. That money went to Su and his business after Waite contacted him through Mrs. April Bragg, CEO and President of the Warner Robins Chamber of Commerce. “I knew I wanted to help him,” she said. “Someone had thrown a brick at my door, and I didn’t have to close my shop, but I paid for those doors.” Doors, which, according to Waite, cost her $4,000. “Even him just closing the one day, the wages lost by the employees, the revenue lost by the daily sales, I just wanted to help him in some way.”

It’s not common to see comradery amongst businesses such as this; however, “small businesses should support one another, you should be the action you want to see,” Waite said, adding, “Be the community that you want to see.” Waite hopes to see more of small businesses building one another up, and helping each other to grow and flourish.

Waite uses her business commonly to collect funds to help those in need, the same way she assisted Lieu’s on the Go, by taking customers tips, and putting them back into the community. Recently, she has collected for foster families, the homeless, as well as senior citizens in need. “I just thank Warner Robins, and thank them for their generosity,” Waite said.

My Grandmas Empanadas is open 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. everyday, aside from Sunday, when they are closed. Lieu’s on the Go is open 11 a.m. to 9 p.m. everyday aside from Monday, when they are closed. Residents are encouraged to stop in either for a hot, quality meal, while also supporting local businesses.

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