Myrtle Beach bar strips cash from walls, gives to employees during coronavirus shutdown

MYRTLE BEACH, S.C. — A South Carolina bar owner wanted to give back to its employees while business is slow because of the coronavirus pandemic.

So the owner of Hamburger Joe’s in Myrtle Beach took down all of the dollar bills that wallpapered the bar. The much-needed currency covered the walls from the floor to the ceiling, WMBF reporting.

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The first bill was put on the wall in 1989 and the tradition continued for the next three decades, Myrtle Beach Online reported.

Normally, Richard Brooks’ shop has 75 employees, but as of now because of the pandemic only 15 are working, the rest voluntarily laid themselves off. But Brooks told WMBF that once the lockdown is lifted, he’ll need them back.

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In all, when the counting was done, about $10,000 was removed from the building, Myrtle Beach Online reported. Some of the bills were so old they couldn’t be salvaged, but about 70 percent of those taken down were OK.

It isn’t the first time this particular business has done it before to help out those who need it most, WMBF reported.

Brooks has donated small amounts of the bills when they’re in areas that the staff doesn’t want them, or if they’ve fallen when the tape loses its stickiness. Donations of between $500 and $1,000 happen about three times a year, according to Myrtle Beach Online.

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Once the business gets back to normal, they’ll be waiting for new bills to decorate the restaurant, Brooks told Myrtle Beach Online.