‘COVID sucks’: Customer leaves $1,400 tip at Colorado bakery

ESTES PARK, Colo. — Employees at a Colorado bakery were wearing masks Wednesday, but it was easy to see they were smiling. That’s because a customer spent $20.04 but left a $1,400 tip -- a $200 gratuity for each of the store’s seven employees.

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The tipper, referred to as “David” by workers at Notchtop Bakery and Cafe in Estes Park, left a simple message along with the tip: “COVID sucks,” KMGH reported.

“He asked how many servers we have today and how many staff altogether,” Notchtop owner Nailya Khametvalieva told the television station. “We had seven people.”

When David paid his bill for eggs, bacon, sausage and biscuits and gravy, his server, Gloria Fuentes discovered the $1,400 tip.

Thank you “Covid Bandid” for you generous gift to our staff. You gift has touched many lives.

Posted by Notchtop Bakery & Cafe on Wednesday, January 20, 2021

“I couldn’t believe it when I saw the bill. I was impressed,” Fuentes told KMGH. “I was like, ‘Oh my God, am I dreaming or what’s going on?’”

On the receipt, David left instructions to divide the tip evenly among the seven employees, KCNC reported.

“It made my people almost cry and they’re very, very happy, and they wanted to thank him … it’s very generous,” Khametvalieva told the television station. “We’re so thankful.”

Khametvalieva never closed the restaurant that she has run for 10 years, CNN reported. But business has been tough because of the pandemic and last year’s wildfires.

“I wanted to thank everybody who actually feel for small businesses and people have been so grateful and kind and nice,” she told CNN. “They have a big heart, especially David,” she said.

Khametvalieva’s employees are also grateful.

“I think it’s motivation to keep doing our best, to keep positive during the hard times,” Fuentes told KMGH. “Not everything is darkness. There is a light at the end of the tunnel.”

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