Over the past couple of weeks, a veritable re-enactment of the classic Christmas flick “It’s a Wonderful Life” has played out in Atlanta.
Manuel’s Tavern owner Brian Maloof held the leading role of George Bailey. The appropriately named Angelo Fuster, a longtime patron of Manuel’s, was cast as the guardian angel Clarence, who guides a man out of hopelessness. And, nearly 3,000 supporters of the storied watering hole in Poncey-Highland became like the residents of fictional town Bedford Falls, offering funds to save the 64-year-old tavern from closing at year’s end.
Maloof was prepared to call it quits when a group of Manuel’s regulars, spearheaded by Fuster, approached him about setting up a Go Fund Me campaign. The page went live Dec. 2, with a goal of raising $75,000 — enough to pay the insurance and liquor license fees for 2021, as well as make payroll.
Credit: Becky Stein
Credit: Becky Stein
It reached that goal by 12:30 p.m. the next day, but the tally continued to rise. As of five days later, 2,800 donors had contributed nearly $175,000 to that fund.
“That’s just what’s online,” Maloof told The Atlanta-Journal Constitution. He said that people also had been stopping by to hand-deliver cash and checks, along with letters of support and stories about the connection they feel to Manuel’s.
Maloof found a few of those were particularly touching. One was a cash donation placed inside an envelope addressed to George Bailey. Another was a $10 donation from someone unemployed, who wrote that he wished it could be more, but that was all he could afford.
Maloof was so heartened by the outpouring of community support that he wrote a lengthy letter, expressing his thanks and gratitude, and posted it on the restaurant’s Facebook page.
“It has been the most humbling and overwhelming experience in my life. It will not be forgotten, abused or taken for granted,” he wrote. “I have always known that Manuel’s is more than a bar, it is a place of comfort, peace and joy, a place of humanity in a world of chaos. Manuel’s is more than my family, it is the collective conscience of the people who frequent it. My job has been to keep the doors open and guide it into the future. I was doing everything I knew how, and I was failing. All of you stepped up and saved it.”
Manuel’s has applied for its 2021 liquor license, and it has contacted its insurance agency to renew coverage for next year. Maloof also has been able to inform staff that their jobs are secured for the near future.
Maloof signed the letter “Brian Maloof aka George Bailey.” His postscript reads: “It really is a wonderful life.”
“It is life-changing,” Maloof told the AJC. “I went in a matter of a week from figuring out what I am going to do to planning the future of Manuel’s. It’s a complete reversal of thought.”
Maloof said he realizes that many other restaurateurs are facing serious financial problems, due to the pandemic, and might not be as lucky as him. “I know there are fabulous restaurants out there doing everything they are supposed to do, and it’s just not working,” he said. “A good-run restaurant is going to be in the exact predicament as I am. I let go, and let God see what would happen. Our history played a huge role in the support we received. A restaurant with that history — hopefully enough people who love them will step up.”
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