ATLANTA — Restaurant owners said they are still recovering from lost business after a water main break caused a sinkhole on Peachtree Street in Buckhead.
The hole is now repaired, but the restaurants around it are trying not to sink.
R. Thomas' Deluxe Grill shift manager Jason Phagan said the restaurant shut down for three and a half days, costing them about $15,000.
"We've still got to pay rent those days," Phagan said. "Well, utilities still have to get paid, but we're not making any money."
R. Thomas' has been an Atlanta landmark since 1985. Phagan said if the restaurant's walls could talk as loud as its parrot mascots, he believes they would say they've been through enough during the decades he's been working there.
"$10,000 a night," Phagan reminisced. "I mean, there would be a line out the door around the corner, but since COVID, it's really decreased a lot."
Plus, a massive sinkhole right in front of it surely didn't help.
"It's sad," Phagan said. "They should have done a better job."
However, the wind beneath Phagan's wings has been the support from the customers.
"R. Thomas, they don't treat you like a transaction or just a number," said Aisha Bryant, who's a long-time customer.
She and others in the community have been rallying to help the restaurant get back on its feet. Supporters have been sharing posts on social media encouraging customers to flock to the doors. Bryant's post made it to ATL Scoop, which has over 800,000 followers on Instagram.
"Just the smallest post can make a huge difference," Bryant said nothing that she'd hate to see another Atlanta staple shut down.
It's slowly working. A customer came in on Monday because he saw the social media posts. Phagan is grateful that people care.
"Honestly, we're just trying to let people know that we are reopened," Phagan said.