'Amazing Human' Leaves $966 Tip At Kildare's In West Chester

WEST CHESTER, PA — Kildare's Public House on Gay Street was the scene of the generosity.

A customer whose bill food and drink bill on Jan. 14 totaled $33. 21 added a tip of $966.79, bringing the charge total to $1,000.

It was not a mistake. The generous tipper made that clear by adding a note pointing to the line for the $966 tip. It said, "Share with your colleagues."

And at the top of the bill, in large, all-caps, the tipper wrote, "Hang in there — COVID won't last forever!!" He added, "Thank you."

General Manager Mark Tarzell said he and the bartender were the only staff working when the customer named Mike was in. Mike, he said, "ordered a chicken cheesesteak and had a couple of beers," and offered a few words of encouragement before he left.

The $966 tip he left will be shared among the seven staff members who worked last night, including the cooks, Tarzell said.

When Kildare's Irish Pub posted a photo of the check stub, with tip, on social media, commenters agreed it was a "cool" and "amazing" uplift that everyone needed.

Kildare's wrote, "Wanted to share this extremely kind gesture from one of our guests last night. Our staff were over the moon. Thank you so much! The generosity that we have encountered over these hard past few months really is overwhelming. Thank you to everyone."

One commenter asked, "Who in West Chester rich enough to leave an almost $1k tip? Wonderful to see that there are generous folks out there."

Gay Street in West Chester is the borough's restaurant hub and through late summer and fall the street — a state route — closed several blocks to traffic and moved seating into the street.

Tarzell said business at Kildare's has been OK through the pandemic months. "We have some great repeat customers who have supported us," he said.