ALLENDALE, Mich.– We occasionally hear people refer to their co-workers as being like family. But, for one West Michigan woman, it took on a whole new meaning. Carli Kaptein said her boss closed the restaurant she works at for one day so that her co-workers could attend her father’s funeral.
“He was young, 62 years old,” said Kaptein. “He was a hands on dad, loved sports. He was always there at any sports event. That was my bond with him.”
Kaptein said her father died of a sudden heart attack in early February.
Kaptein knew she could find comfort in her fellow employees at Grand Coney Restaurant, in Allendale. But, on the day of her father’s funeral, she learned just how much they would be there for her.
When Kaptein’s boss found out about the sudden death of her father, he decided to close his restaurant an entire day so that everyone could attend the visitation.
“It was an easy decision to make,” said Chris Nyenhuis, owner of Grand Coney Restaurant.
“It made a very sad time actually happy,” said Kaptein. “That people like that would shut down a business, lose their wages, lose the restaurant income, for me and a dad they didn’t even know.”
Kaptein said she had no idea her co-workers were planning to attend.
In a time when it seems like work easily spills over into our personal lives, here is an example of making sure we keep the right priorities.
9 Comments to “Boss Closes Restaurant for Grieving Employee”
February 14, 2013 at 6:23 PM
My sympathies go out to Ms. Kaptein. I know you are grieving. What a wonderful and generous boss, Mr. Nyenhuis, is. It's nice to read stories like this. It's also nice to know how caring some people can really be.
February 14, 2013 at 9:32 PM
You have our sincere Christian sympathy!
February 14, 2013 at 9:57 PM
She has my sincere fellow human being sympathy and empathy.
February 15, 2013 at 5:16 PM
A great story and that was the way of the older days when a company or business cared about their workers.
Now all they think about is money money money loyalty to an employee is gone or I thought it was until reading this story.
Sorry to hear about the loss of her father at such a young age he sounded like a real father
Also a giant way to go to the owner of this establishment and may your business pick up when people see what a great family atmosphere you have.
February 15, 2013 at 7:40 PM
What a great boss This act speaks volumes about this owner and the people that work for him. You have my sincere sympathy.
February 15, 2013 at 8:57 PM
So sorry Carli for the loss of your dad. This is one reason why we love the Grand Coney. Chris and all the staff are so awesome. Thank you Chris for allowing everyone to share the grief with Carli. Praying for you.
February 16, 2013 at 11:38 AM
Our sympathy to Carli and your entire family. The Grand Coney has a wonderful boss and staff to give of their time and income to share in your time of grieving. May God Bless each of you in a very special ways.
February 17, 2013 at 10:07 AM
My sincerest sympathies for this daughter and her family for their loss… My father too died of a heart problem, not a heart attack but it was a stroke that led us to find out he had major heart issues…he was 63 and to this day I still wonder if there would've been anything we could've done to prevent this…he an artery disease that we never knew about until then…hugs to the grieving family and many blessings to the owner of Grand Coney as I have been in there many times…that's the way it should be done…
February 22, 2013 at 11:45 PM
I always loved The Grand Coney when I lived in Allendale. Chris knew his regular customers and did an outstanding job with his customers and staff. Hearing about this from anywhere else would shock me, but this restaurant and owner, I wouldn’t expect anything less. Much sympathy to Carli. Chris, thank you for proving, yet again, that wonderful, caring people do exist.