Virginia Chef Goes Above and Beyond for Elderly Customer

September 16, 2026

When an elderly woman arrived at a new restaurant location only to discover it wasn't open, a Virginia chef made sure she wouldn't have to face the journey home alone.

Then, he went a step further and bought her lunch.

Andrew Griffin via 12onyourside.com

Chef Andrew Griffin, who works at Deep Run Roadhouse in Henrico, Virginia, was recently recognized for a simple act of kindness that made a big difference to one of the restaurant's regular customers.

The barbecue restaurant was preparing to open a new location when Miss Duke, an elderly customer, arrived around noon on a Sunday with a local senior transportation group.

There was just one problem. The new restaurant wasn't open for business yet.

Griffin greeted her and explained the situation. That's when Miss Duke told him she supposed she'd have to walk home.

Rather than let her make the journey on foot, Griffin offered her a ride But as they got into the van, he began thinking about his own grandmother and what life might have been like for her as she grew older.

"She probably didn't have food in her refrigerator," Griffin recalled thinking.

That thought inspired him to do a little more. Instead of simply driving Miss Duke home, Griffin took her to a nearby restaurant so she could enjoy lunch before making sure she got home safely.

It was a small gesture, but one that didn't go unnoticed.

After hearing about what Griffin had done, 12 On Your Side surprised him with its Acts of Kindness Award, along with $300 in cash and a restaurant gift card.

And his boss made it clear that the recognition was well deserved.

"I couldn't be more proud of you," Deep Run Roadhouse owner Paul Hubbard told Griffin. "What you did for Miss Duke is just a small piece of what you do for all these guys on a daily basis. It really tells us what kind of character you have and how much you care about your people."