El Mezcal owner to appear on ‘Kelly Clarkson Show’ after effort to help fellow small businesses
STEVENS POINT - A local restaurant owner will appear on “The Kelly Clarkson Show” to highlight his effort to help other small businesses throughout the pandemic.
Adolfo Melendez, owner of El Mezcal, 5741 Suite E, Windy Drive in Stevens Point, will appear on the daytime talk show April 1. Melendez pre-recorded the segment earlier this month, but it was pushed from its original air date of March 15.
To help other local restaurants affected by pandemic-related restrictions, Melendez purchases gifts cards to different restaurants and raffles them off to customers on Facebook. He said he’s spent more than $3,000 of his own advertising dollars on the effort.
Melendez’s story was picked up by other national news outlets, including CNN and The Good News Network.
“It’s exciting,” he said. “People see what you’re doing and tell other people.”
He has received donations from across the country to put toward supporting the Stevens Point community. A couple in Missouri sent $300, and someone in California sent another $100. He also received $100 from a business in Richmond, Virginia, with a note saying they were moved by his generous act and wanted to help.
Melendez said he also has had people in the Stevens Point community recognize him and pay for his bill at other restaurants.
He said it’s become a “spider web” of people helping each other.
“The Kelly Clarkson Show” airs weekdays at 3 p.m. in Milwaukee on WTMJTV (Channel 4).