Help save my family business of 20 years
Donation protected
My name is Tanya and this is my story:
**short and sweet version- what I’m asking for: I would use the money to pay off my personal debt I’ve accrued restructuring, remodeling, repairing & replacing equip, , signage, and bringing up to code. The rest would sit in bank as a cushion to shield me from the viscous $30NSF fee circle (they don’t get returned- the money comes in next day on credit card revenue, but a day late) — I could easily sell this and make a profit, get a job or even go on and join the govt assist program, being a single mom, but I have 15 employees that I love like family with families / and life long customers I love, that depend on me to keep the doors open/ and my main goal is to do just that and keep dad’s legacy alive for my employees and for family. I know this business can be successful even with the restaurant chains surrounding me. I have fantastic landlord and a very fair man.
My personal story - in 1999 my husband Steve Knox had a friend who had a restaurant for sale and introduced my dad to him so my father bought the Iconic WF Cody In order to be in the state and city I lived in. I held the liquor license all these years, I was on the corporation papers .
I worked there from 99/05, I got re-married in 04 and had a baby, we got Divorced in 2010. I moved to AZ with my daughter to be close to my mother and step father who was going through cancer. (Cancer free now)
May 7th, 2013 4:30pm
my life changed forever !!
I just get home from daughters karate class and I get a phone phone call from a friend who still worked at the bar asking if I’ve heard about my dad...
I said no, what.
“He was killed on his bike today”
what? He doesn’t ride a bicycle...
”no, his new Harley ...”
what- ??? He doesn’t own a Harley !!!
Screaming.....
“Yes, yes he does, his wife bought one...”
Wait, what???
wife ????
fall to floor
in walks my mother, knowing the news and knowing I should be getting home from class...
my mom and dad stayed very close thru the years.
Dad just introduced this woman of evil
Disposition to meet my family.
We could see right through her. Something about her wasn’t right.
My father, in his loneliness, married the gold digger 5 months before he was killed. She bought him the Harley at 67 - he had no business riding.... no training. Hindsight is 20/20, it turns out she was having affairs the whole time. My father had just became aware of. They weren’t even in the same house the week he died.
So now begins the probate case...
and the fight for executorship since he stupidly didn’t have a will.
Courts gave her 30 days plus a 2 week extension to TRY and get bonded - she got caught lying with a Gambling win while filing personal bankruptcy ... so the courts gave me 7 days.. with my family’s help and prayers, I was able to get the $100,000 bond and the executorship of the estate.
Now it’s war- because she’s mad. She said she’ll fight me on every court order just to use the estate money up in attorney fees. Which she did.
Courts didnt care that she stole $9000.00 in the beginning. Courts ordered her to turn over business computers with business records.. she refused ... courts did nothing...she failed to pay quarterly taxes from the time dad died. .. finally, the IRS is attaching it to her Social# the evil step mommy ended up with everything . She won’t even give me a spoonful of his ashes. All she wanted was money.
I attended the court trial for the 17 year old girl who accidentally took my fathers life, and I forgave her on the stand In of front a packed courtroom of tears and asked the judge for no jail time for her, she needs to move on, go to college and have a family of her own.. my brother and I forgave her. There’s no reason for another life to be destroyed.
The widow didn’t bother to come... no money in it for her. I even have a nice letter from the defendants law firm thanking me. The judge had tears in his eyes, he’d never seen a family member non hostile in this situation.
My uncle (who helped my dad buy the bar in 1999) stepped in and purchased codys from the estate. So at least that stayed in the family - 6 months later he gets diagnosed with cancer and sold it to me before he passed away.
I had to make the decision to leave behind my flourishing business in AZ, to run the family business in Mo. I could now be closer to my daughter, who at this time was living with her dad during probate. Once I was able to get the family business I could now co parent my daughter since her father, sacrificed his new home and bought a house here to be close to us.
When I purchased the place from my uncle, he withdrew 20 grand as my down payment. That was every bit of capitol left in bank. He knew that would cut me short but he also didn’t expect to die so fast. He expected to help me get on my feet. He promised to be my money guy.
So now after 6 years of struggling to learn the business, putting everything I had personally into it, I’ve learned how PAST employees robbed me blind, learned inventory control, hiring/firing, business taxes and licenses, food control, security, etc I’m trying to get back on track.
I have a great staff and great food.
The place has been here 40 years. We just celebrated on June 1st. 
New patio out back
It would be a travesty to lose WF Cody’s. I want to keep my fathers legacy alive.
I’ve asked my bank, (they can clearly see I have the funds to make a loan payment) 2 other banks in town, 4 online funding and SBA- all big fat NOs.
I’m out of options so someone suggested a go fund me page ...
having this business has allowed me to help people when they are desperate, feed people when they have no money. I have had fundraisers and memorials for employees, now I’m needing a little help.
So if you could please just help with a small amount ... everything adds up. Anything will help.
One special thing that did happen through all this mess & drama — I have been reunited with my ex-husband (after25years) that got the whole ball rolling with this business and my dad.
If I’m blessed enough to get that goal amount... anything over 20% will be donated to the local humane society.
I will document it for all.
Thank you reading my story, I hope you can help.
**short and sweet version- what I’m asking for: I would use the money to pay off my personal debt I’ve accrued restructuring, remodeling, repairing & replacing equip, , signage, and bringing up to code. The rest would sit in bank as a cushion to shield me from the viscous $30NSF fee circle (they don’t get returned- the money comes in next day on credit card revenue, but a day late) — I could easily sell this and make a profit, get a job or even go on and join the govt assist program, being a single mom, but I have 15 employees that I love like family with families / and life long customers I love, that depend on me to keep the doors open/ and my main goal is to do just that and keep dad’s legacy alive for my employees and for family. I know this business can be successful even with the restaurant chains surrounding me. I have fantastic landlord and a very fair man.
My personal story - in 1999 my husband Steve Knox had a friend who had a restaurant for sale and introduced my dad to him so my father bought the Iconic WF Cody In order to be in the state and city I lived in. I held the liquor license all these years, I was on the corporation papers .
I worked there from 99/05, I got re-married in 04 and had a baby, we got Divorced in 2010. I moved to AZ with my daughter to be close to my mother and step father who was going through cancer. (Cancer free now)
May 7th, 2013 4:30pm
my life changed forever !!
I just get home from daughters karate class and I get a phone phone call from a friend who still worked at the bar asking if I’ve heard about my dad...
I said no, what.
“He was killed on his bike today”
what? He doesn’t ride a bicycle...
”no, his new Harley ...”
what- ??? He doesn’t own a Harley !!!
Screaming.....
“Yes, yes he does, his wife bought one...”
Wait, what???
wife ????
fall to floor
in walks my mother, knowing the news and knowing I should be getting home from class...
my mom and dad stayed very close thru the years.
Dad just introduced this woman of evil
Disposition to meet my family.
We could see right through her. Something about her wasn’t right.
My father, in his loneliness, married the gold digger 5 months before he was killed. She bought him the Harley at 67 - he had no business riding.... no training. Hindsight is 20/20, it turns out she was having affairs the whole time. My father had just became aware of. They weren’t even in the same house the week he died.
So now begins the probate case...
and the fight for executorship since he stupidly didn’t have a will.
Courts gave her 30 days plus a 2 week extension to TRY and get bonded - she got caught lying with a Gambling win while filing personal bankruptcy ... so the courts gave me 7 days.. with my family’s help and prayers, I was able to get the $100,000 bond and the executorship of the estate.
Now it’s war- because she’s mad. She said she’ll fight me on every court order just to use the estate money up in attorney fees. Which she did.
Courts didnt care that she stole $9000.00 in the beginning. Courts ordered her to turn over business computers with business records.. she refused ... courts did nothing...she failed to pay quarterly taxes from the time dad died. .. finally, the IRS is attaching it to her Social# the evil step mommy ended up with everything . She won’t even give me a spoonful of his ashes. All she wanted was money.
I attended the court trial for the 17 year old girl who accidentally took my fathers life, and I forgave her on the stand In of front a packed courtroom of tears and asked the judge for no jail time for her, she needs to move on, go to college and have a family of her own.. my brother and I forgave her. There’s no reason for another life to be destroyed.
The widow didn’t bother to come... no money in it for her. I even have a nice letter from the defendants law firm thanking me. The judge had tears in his eyes, he’d never seen a family member non hostile in this situation.
My uncle (who helped my dad buy the bar in 1999) stepped in and purchased codys from the estate. So at least that stayed in the family - 6 months later he gets diagnosed with cancer and sold it to me before he passed away.
I had to make the decision to leave behind my flourishing business in AZ, to run the family business in Mo. I could now be closer to my daughter, who at this time was living with her dad during probate. Once I was able to get the family business I could now co parent my daughter since her father, sacrificed his new home and bought a house here to be close to us.
When I purchased the place from my uncle, he withdrew 20 grand as my down payment. That was every bit of capitol left in bank. He knew that would cut me short but he also didn’t expect to die so fast. He expected to help me get on my feet. He promised to be my money guy.
So now after 6 years of struggling to learn the business, putting everything I had personally into it, I’ve learned how PAST employees robbed me blind, learned inventory control, hiring/firing, business taxes and licenses, food control, security, etc I’m trying to get back on track.
I have a great staff and great food.
The place has been here 40 years. We just celebrated on June 1st. New patio out back It would be a travesty to lose WF Cody’s. I want to keep my fathers legacy alive.
I’ve asked my bank, (they can clearly see I have the funds to make a loan payment) 2 other banks in town, 4 online funding and SBA- all big fat NOs.
I’m out of options so someone suggested a go fund me page ...
having this business has allowed me to help people when they are desperate, feed people when they have no money. I have had fundraisers and memorials for employees, now I’m needing a little help.
So if you could please just help with a small amount ... everything adds up. Anything will help.
One special thing that did happen through all this mess & drama — I have been reunited with my ex-husband (after25years) that got the whole ball rolling with this business and my dad.
If I’m blessed enough to get that goal amount... anything over 20% will be donated to the local humane society.
I will document it for all.
Thank you reading my story, I hope you can help.
Organiser
Tanya Knox
Organiser
Springfield, MO
