Moe Joe's Hosts Event To Help 'Heroes' Of The Service Industry

PLAINFIELD, IL — As the global coronavirus pandemic forced businesses to suspend dine-in services across the state, more than half the employees at popular Plainfield eatery, Moe Joe’s, had to leave their jobs.

In order to help them financially, the restaurant is hosting an event Tuesday, May 12, and all the proceeds will be distributed among the 60 workers, excluding management staff.

"More than half of my staff members are at home just waiting to come back to work. Only some of them got unemployment and others didn’t," said Jamie Littell, owner of Moe Joe’s.

“The unemployment isn't that great for our servers and bartenders. And the ones that are still working, we can't give them too much stress.”

Fat Tuesday will begin at 11 a.m. and until 9 p.m., certain items from Moe Joe’s regular menu will be available for carryout. A list of the available items can be found on the website.

Littell said in order to comply with social distancing standards, diners are requested to stay in their cars while their orders are being taken. Alternatively, they can also place their orders online.

“We’re taking all safety measures we’re supposed to,” she said. “Everyone will be wearing gloves and masks and no outsider will be allowed inside the building. We’re expecting it to get super busy, and we even joked about there being a car parade lined down Lockport Street.”

As one of the few places serving Cajun food in the area, Moe Joe’s has been a popular spot for 15 years among seekers of gastronomic delight. Since the stay-at-home order, Littell said they had to get creative with their services.

"The transition in the business model was difficult because we had to learn how to do it overnight. But everyone here has a great attitude and we have a little fun,” she said. “We’ve been very busy and that is fortunate."

Despite a high number of orders, Littell said they are losing money as they are no longer able to sell alcohol by the glass. The business is afloat and they are able to keep 17 workers employed, but it's not enough to pay all the bills or even make a substantial profit.

"When we heard about the restaurants having to shut down, we didn’t have a lot of time to process. Next morning we explained to our staff that we no longer need all 60 of them," Littell said.

"We asked how many of them wanted to keep working because some were in compromising situations at home with elderly relatives and could not put themselves or others at risk. We said we would help them receive unemployment as well."

Littell is still trying to keep more people employed by offering delivery services across long distances using her own staff, as opposed to just through third-party websites.

"Watching people I care about have such a hard time is excruciatingly painful. I just want to find a way to help them," she said. "Money is only half the issue because when you are stuck at home, you feel really isolated. This event will be the perfect way to show them that they’re not forgotten and we think of them every day."

Interacting with guests is one of the perks of the service industry and Littell said they “have been stripped of that.”

"I really, really love my job and my life’s purpose is to bring happiness to others, whether it is through good food or celebrating a birthday and anniversary," she said.

She said the event on May 12 will be a way for the community to say thank you to those who are being forced to work during these unprecedented times.

"We're blessed to be able to help the first responders and the front liners in the hospital. Our staff has been diligent about this by serving them food," Littell said. "But I don't want people to forget that those in the service industry were just kind of stripped of everything overnight. And yet, they don’t complain. In their own ways, they are heroes to me."