A year ago when I started we were taking credit cards for reservations. We stopped as it got busier as it adds time to the transaction.

Chef started doing this because we were having no shows.

Tonight we set a record.

1 no show.

But.

From 4:00 until close we had 14 parties cancel. 44 people.

That’s a server I didn’t need. That’s 14 parties my staff thought they’d get but didn’t.

That’s also people we said no to because we started the evening close to capacity.

Most of these guests entered a credit card when they made the reservation.

Tomorrow I’m going to charge them. $25 per person.

$1,100 dollars for us.

We don’t see the money. It’s applied to our bill.

But it’s going to bring me great joy to hit the charge button tomorrow.

Great joy.