Meyerland Realtor donates thousands of dollars in burgers.
Just a few weeks ago, David Atkins and Justin Turner were merely acquaintances. Atkins frequented Bernie’s Burger Bus, the restaurant mini-chain Turner owns, but they had never actually hung out. Now, Atkins is a prolific volunteer for the restaurant and the organizer of a new initiative — he’s bought hundreds of burgers using money from his own pocket and given them to people in the community.
Restaurants have been hit hard by the novel coronavirus pandemic. Only one out of five restaurant owners believe they can survive this crisis, even with stimulus assistance. When Atkins saw Turner’s Facebook posts about how his business was struggling, he felt compelled to do something about it. A Realtor for Martha Turner Sotheby’s, he’s had a successful career in the luxury real estate market, allowing him to pay it forward. After talking with his wife, Lisa, he stepped up to help Turner and Bernie’s Burger Bus.
Atkins started with one big gesture: He bought a $1,000 Bernie’s gift card, which he put away in a drawer for use later, and then another $1,000’s worth of $25 gift cards, which he distributed to people in the community. He didn’t put any conditions on them; if people needed to cash the gift cards in, they could, though he encouraged them to do so later if they were able.
But he wanted to do more. Atkins started buying burgers directly from Bernie’s — hundreds of them. He put out the word on Facebook that he would be distributing free burgers to anyone who requested one. Then he enlisted his 9-year-old daughter, Ava, and his 11-year-old son, Benjamin, to help him deliver them to various locations around his Meyerland home and Bernie’s Bellaire location.
“I [wanted] to involve my kids so that they can see what humility and humanity is like,” said Atkins.
The first weekend, he fulfilled 150 orders, which allowed Turner to make payroll. The second weekend, he reached 350. This coming weekend, he is aiming for 450 to 500 burgers.
“What he has done is what keeps me going,” said Turner, who had to temporarily close three out of his four Bernie’s locations because of the crisis. “Sales are obviously not where we need them to be.” On Friday, the Bellaire location will reopen for dinein service on the patio from noon to 8 p.m. (pickup is still encouraged).
There were some kinks at first. Atkins spent more than six hours in his car the first day, and when he finally delivered some of the meals, the burgers and fries were cold and soggy. So he spent some time with Turner fine-tuning logistics before the second drive. The menu is now limited to five different burgers, which are kept in electric heated containers, and they’ve switched from delivery to drive-thru pickup. This weekend, tables will be set up in front of Bernie’s Heights location, where people can come collect their orders. (Requests can be made via Atkins’ Facebook page.)
Atkins’ hope is that his gesture will create a ripple effect, and that people will feel compelled to pay it forward. He says that many recipients of the free burgers have turned around and reordered from Bernie’s, supported another small local business of theirs, donated to a food bank, and other such acts of generosity. They have also been giving big tips to the Bernie’s staff.
Now Atkins is looking to expand. He’s secured commitments from two companies that are offering financial help with the burgers, and hopes to recruit more.
He’s encouraging people to show up with contributions for the Houston Food Bank. He’s also thinking of putting together a raffle for the chance to win a $25 gift card to Bernie’s.
“I’m trying to figure out ways to make this as infectious as possible,” he said. Just like the virus, feel-good emotions can spread from person to person, spurring them to give in return. “Whatever it is. It doesn’t have to be money, it could be volunteering,” he added.