Community Rallies Behind Family-Owned Restaurant To Prevent It From Closing Due To Pandemic

December 5, 2020

The owner of a restaurant in Snohomish, WA, has seen a 90% drop in business since the coronavirus pandemic hit.

The Maltby Café

The Maltby Café has served the community for over 36 years. But the small family-run restaurant has suffered greatly in these past months.

When the second shut down came, co-owner Tana Baulmer resigned herself to the reality that she would have to close the restaurant permanently.

"I got on my knees and I cried and I said, 'God, I need a miracle'," Baulmer told KING 5.

When word got out about the restaurant closing its doors, thousands of customers began giving what they could to keep the cafe's doors open.

In less than a week, more than $92,000 has been raised for the restaurant on GoFundMe.

"Small family run businesses have suffered greatly in these past months and The Maltby Café is one of those small family businesses that is struggling to stay open," Jim Barger, the organizer of the fundraiser, wrote on GoFundMe.

"The owners did not want to ask for financial assistance from their customer base however they need your help! Any amount of support to help cover the devastating affects of our environment would go along way to helping keep staff, provide insurance for their employees and continue to operate."

Baulmer calls it her "Miracle at Maltby" -- just in time for Christmas.

"I feel very humbled by this," she said. "I see the light at the end of the tunnel."