When a fire broke out near the pickup window of a Wendy's restaurant in Duluth, it threatened not only the 30-year-old business, but also the jobs of nearly 30 full- and part-time workers.
A few days later, however, owner Bob Sullivan committed to rebuild, and while he's doing so, he'll pay workers' salaries.
"Between the insurance money and ourselves, we hope to pay them as long as we can," said Sullivan. "What if it takes six months? I don't know, but we'll do it as long as we can."
The Duluth News Tribune got wind of Sullivan's decision, and did a nice story, which in turn has brought the love from customers.
"We didn't do it for publicity, we did it for selfish reasons," said Sullivan. "Replacing good people is hard to do."
But we live in a "Wolf of Wall Street" world, an age of avarice where executive compensation has skyrocketed and yet the business lobby fights raising the minimum wage to anywhere close to a livable level.
So the guy who gives a little becomes news.
It seems like Sullivan is a good guy, but he's continuing to pay his employees because he's also a good businessman. He owns Wendy's franchises in Brainerd, Nisswa and Fargo, as well as real estate and apartment buildings.