Waffle House makes waitress return $1,000 tip

theGRIO REPORT - Shaina Brown, a North Carolina Waffle House employee, was working the overnight shift last month when a customer left her a $1,000 tip, but Waffle House made her return the money to the tipper.

carrieheals

Jun 10, 2014

Shaina Brown was working the overnight shift last month at a North Carolina Waffle House when a customer left her a $1,000 tip.

But when the restaurant chain learned of the enormous tip, it made Brown return the money to the tipper.

The mystery diner told the 26-year-old waitress that he was “going to bless” her and that she had a “good spirit.”

He paid his bill with his credit card, leaving a $1,500 tip. He instructed Brown to share $500 with a woman at a nearby table, but the rest was hers.

Shortly after receiving the generous tip, Waffle House would not give Brown her $1,000.

“I feel like they stole from me,” Brown told the Charlotte Observer. “They did exactly what they teach us not to do.”

A spokesperson for the chain restaurant told the Observer that large tips are refunded to patrons regularly, saying that large tips are asked to be given in cash or check.

Thanks to the help of Observer reporter Josh Shaffer, the unnamed businessman was informed of the situation and said he will write a personal check for Brown.

Follow Carrie Healey on Twitter @CarrieHeals.