North Carolina Restaurant Closes, Owner Takes Staff to Disney World

A North Carolina restaurant closed its doors last week after the owner promised to take the entire staff on a trip to Disney World.

Gypsy Gilliam, the owner of the State Farmer’s Market Restaurant, closed up shop to take all 20 employees and their families to Florida to experience the happiest place on Earth.

ICYMI: Kindness counts: This Raleigh restaurant owner took her staff to Disney World. For free. #wral https://t.co/tq2AVrGViA

— WRAL NEWS in NC (@WRAL) March 6, 2019

The employees, who initially thought it was too good to be true when Gilliam first announced it, said they were so “grateful” for her actions.

“It was so amazing. I cried a couple of times,” Jasmine Kamel, an employee, told WRAL. “I could cry right now. I don’t think she’ll ever understand how grateful we are for what she did for us.”

“I have a 5-year-old son,” Jessica Burr, another employee, told WRAL. “I don’t know what the future holds, but I know this is something I wouldn’t be able to do for him. I am forever grateful to Gypsy, and I don’t have any idea how to pay her back.”

Gilliam took care of all expenses for the group of 50 staffers and their families, footing the bill for theme park tickets, hotel rooms, and food.

The restaurant owner said she organized the trip to show how much she appreciated her staff, adding that she was “blessed to be able to give them a little magic in their lives.”