Save Greathouse BBQ

Okay, Springfield, I'm asking you to help. Our friends at Greathouse Barbeque opened their restaurant in October 2019, totally unaware there was a pandemic on the horizon. When it hit, they were in a pickle, since their location has no outdoor dining. But they stayed open just to GIVE AWAY free (and delicious!) lunches to school children. They've been in and out of open ever since. It has finally gotten down to the point where they're behind on rent and utilities, having received zero help from the federal PPP grant program. Last week, a judge gave Renatta Frazier one week to come up with approximately $7,000. I posted a plea on Facebook and it was shared more than 80 times, resulting in a huge turnout of customers. But as a truly family-run business, working as hard as they can, they may not be able to make it fast enough (by Thursday Jan 14) just with the profit margin on food. This fundraiser is a bare minimal target, to try to help them survive a little longer. To be perfectly clear: I’m just a customer. I have known Renatta since I moved to Illinois in 2002, when I interviewed her for what turned out to be the story of some pretty shocking shenanigans on the part of our city officials. Having kept tabs on her ever since, I attended the Greathouse grand opening just to show support for someone who has become a friend. But dang, the food was so good! We kept going back. Everyone else I took to her restaurant loved it. I know she and her kids have poured their heart and soul into this enterprise. I hope we can keep this quirky little Black-owned gem of a restaurant afloat. Donate if you can.