CLEVELAND — One local restaurant is not only staying open, it's also offering free meals to those who need them most.
JB’s Grill and Soul Food in Cleveland has always been take-out only, so the ban on dine-in service hasn’t affected them, and customers are still coming for their wings, Polish boys, fish and ribs.
“Even if they're not hungry. I just think they just come just to be supportive,” owner Barbara Bradford-Williams said.
But even more people are coming these days and bringing their little ones for some much needed nourishment. That's because JB’s is offering free hot lunches for kids every Wednesday through Friday from 12:30 p.m. to 2 p.m.
“I started as soon as I heard about the schools closing, and I immediately jumped on it,” Bradford-Williams said.
The restaurant has enough food and snacks for 75 kids each day. So families like Brianna Williams' can just come in and grab whatever they need or staff will bring it right out to their cars.
“Honestly it helps out a lot. I can come pick up free lunch here for my kids. It's hassle-free,” Williams said.
Despite their blessings, things have still been tough for Bradford-Williams and the staff at JB’s Grill. A decrease in catering orders has cut sales by 50%. But being able to fill a need for the community is a big part of what keeps them going.
“The community is sad right now. Kids are not seeing their friends at school. They're missing their teachers. I'm doing it just to see a smile on a kid's face," Bradford-Williams said.
JB’s Grill is located at 6624 Harvard Ave, Cleveland, OH 44105.
Jade Jarvis is a reporter at News 5 Cleveland. Follow her on Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram.
