Keeping his competition in business

One Wisconsin restaurant owner has found he gets optimum return on investment when he promotes his competition. Adolfo Melendez, who owns Tex-Mex eatery El Mezcal, knows firsthand the impact the pandemic has had on the restaurant industry. Family-based local places like his are especially hard hit.

To help stave off restaurant cutbacks and closures in his community, Melendez purchased more than $2,000 worth of gift cards to other neighborhood restaurants, and has been raffling them off to his customers via Facebook. Olympia Family Restaurant owner Pete Ananiadis truly appreciates the selfless gesture. "In these COVID times, it's very important to eat local, at small mom and pop shops," he said. "Aldofo understands that."