By DAVID DUPONT
BG Independent News
Saturday’s benefit for employees of the Corner Grill should help out Patrick McDermott’s finances.
He’s been out of work since an early morning fire destroyed the interior of the landmark Bowling Green eatery on Feb. 1.
Still for him the show, which will run from 1 p.m. Saturday to 2 a.m. Sunday, at Howard’s Club H at 210 N. Main St., is about more than money. He’s looking forward to seeing his old customers.
McDermott worked the third shift, so he cooked for folks who just got off late night shifts at bars and other restaurants and he cooked for folks just heading to their jobs. “I’d like to reconnect, hang out with them for the day.”
Nikki Cordy, a long time employee at Howard’s, said the idea for the benefit got started while the interior of the diner was still smoldering. So she set out to book 12 hours of music. After five hours, the bill was filled. A few acts had to be turned away.
Among those performing will be Circle the Sun, Harlow, The Casket Company, Birthquake, Fathom City, Scare Me Green, Adam Rice, Justin Payne, Ginger and the Snaps, Mike Dubose, Tom Vasey, and the Defenders. There will be a $5 cover charge.
Cordy said she had “a soft spot in her heart” for the Grill. Sometimes Larry Cain, who owns the Corner Grill, would bring over food when he knew the Howards crew hadn’t had a chance to take a break. The Grill always was able to accommodate her gluten-free diet required by her celiac disease.
“It’s about family,” she said.
After closing time, the Howard’s staff and other night shift workers to unwind, have breakfast and a cup a tea, after a long night’s work.
The workers included musicians. Singer-songwriter Justin Payne, who will play at the benefit, said he “haunted the place for so long.” That included working there.
The benefit is “a special opportunity for many segments of the arts community in BG to rally around a local institution and its employees.
“Many of us in town are on a first name basis with the cooks and servers at the Corner Grill. It has been a colorful local institution, since 1946, and its workers have been getting our community through their days in their own wonderful ways over those years.”
Cain said he’s hoping to be back open in a couple months.
McDermott said the impact has been hard on the 10 employees. Some have been picked up extra hours at their second jobs, or temporary jobs. Some like McDermott, who only worked at the Grill, are out of work.
For workers, he said, the job could pay well if they could handle some of the silliness involved at serving revelers still not ready to call it a night.
Cordy said that the closing of the Grill leaves a big gap. Now workers just head home, and cook for themselves without the camaraderie. “We’re all in withdrawal.”
So early Sunday morning when the last act at the benefit packs up, all the fans, workers and musicians will see on the corner to the south will be the shadow of the darkened neon sign.
