Merichka's Reveals Why It Won't Buy Electric Generator: 'If It Made Economic Sense. It Just Doesn't'

CREST HILL, IL — It's bad enough that the 93-year-old Merichka's Restaurant at 604 Theodore St. still remains closed all of this week — for the second time since June —due to a widespread power outage that rocked the Crest Hill community from this week's powerful storms.

But while Merichka's staff has tried to keep the community informed of its open-closed status on Facebook, some people have come out of the woodwork to blame Merichka's for not owning an electric generator.

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"Generator! But what do I know?" Sandy wrote.

• "OMG that's twice this year. I have a generator for my refrigerators. A restaurant generator is probably $65,000 to $100,000 I'm just guessing," wrote Timothy.
• "Wonder how much a generator would be that would just keep refrigerated items cold so they do not all have to be thrown out?" suggested Beverly.
• "Why don't you get a generator. You will never lose power. Runs on NICOR gas. You will always have power. Never have to close," opined Stephanie.
• "It's absolutely stupid to not get a natural gas generator. Wasting thousands in food. Sure but insurance goes up each time. It would go down and food would be fine. Just plain stupid," remarked Kurt.

Merichka's Responds To Comments

The staff at Merichka's immediately took to Facebook to set the record straight regarding all the grumpy people complaining about the need for an electric generator.

"Please don't get divided ... on this topic," Merichka's shared out to its audience of 22,000 Facebook followers. "But it is true, we, as most restaurants, would easily have added a generator if it made economic sense. It truly just doesn't as a business.

"Specifically, restaurants whose margins are razor thin to begin with. Eighty or so employees every week and every other bill creates extremely small area for any added expense. But we do truly appreciate all the love and advice."

Merichka's also responded to Beverly, letting her know "my cousin hooked up a large generator, and we had an electrician wire two of our main walk-in coolers/freezers. We are able to salvage much more than last time."

Sandy commented, "I'm not saying anything not nice. I'm entitled to my opinion too. The food they are throwing out probably totals $100,000 and could have paid for a generator. It all boils down to making hard business decisions."

"They've already said it would cost $100,000 for a generator. You willing to pitch in?" one person wrote back.

"Owning A Business Isn't For Faint Of Heart"

On the other spectrum, Maureen suggested that Merichka's Restaurant needs to sell off their uncooked food as part of a sidewalk sale.

"Sounds corny, but some people may pay," she wrote.

"Would love to," Merichka's replied back to her. "Health Department would never let that fly. Just don't have a license for that."

Another comment posted on the Merichka's Restaurant Facebook thread came from Keifer, who wrote, "Same folks saying generator are ones complaining that poor boys should be $1.03 like in 1963. Heads up, let's all make sure we do our part and go eat a couple times when the lights are back on. Owning a business isn't for faint of heart and Facebook warriors on here surely haven't been in our shoes."