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Remember the Michigan Waitress with the $10,000 Tip? She’s Fired

Author Anne Erickson
Getty Images / taylanibrahim

Remember the heart-warming story about a Michigan waitress getting a $10,000 tip that broke just a week or so ago? Well, the restaurant let the waitress go from her job just a few days after getting the tip. The business, however, says the termination has nothing to do with the big tip. So, that’s good to hear. Well, what happened? Let’s get into it.

Let’s start at the beginning of this story. About a week ago, a customer left a $10,000 tip on a $32 bill at the Mason Jar Cafe in Benton Harbor, Michigan. “Yesterday a customer came into the Mason Jar for breakfast and left one of our servers a $10,000 tip!” the restaurant wrote on social media. “The server even shared the tip amongst the the other staff to continue to spread the love. In a time where so much is happening, we wanted to share and thank the person who did this life changing act. Things can feel real heavy sometimes. But, this was such an amazing act to have seen first hand in our restaurant.” The server, at the request of the tipper, also split the tip with the other servers working that day. What a feel-good story, right? Not so fast. It’s a little messy.

The eatery fired the Michigan waitress about a week after receiving the big tip, according to MLive/Kalamazoo Gazette. Mason Jar Café co-Owner Jayme Cousins told MLive that she wasn’t allowed to give full details about the firing. That’s “because of labor laws and because other employees were involved.” But, she said it had nothing to do with the $10,000 tip. Cousins specifically said, “She did not get let go over the tip.” She added, “When something this big happens, people act certain ways and if there’s issues with somebody to begin with, this can cause it to be even worse. And then it all just kind of blows up.” Cousins added that the server split the tip with others because that’s what the tipper asked, not because the restaurant requested it. She also says the business paid the taxes on it. Hopefully all will move on in peace.

10 Adorable Michigan Small Towns to Visit Any Season

  • 10. South Haven

    South Haven is one of my favorite Michigan spots, no matter the season. My uncle lives around that area, and it’s simply breathtaking. The beach town is right on the eastern shores of Lake Michigan, in the southwest part of the state. Its population is just over 4,000 residents, but it seems way larger during the summer months, as it’s a very popular tourist destination.

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  • 9. Frankenmuth

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  • 8. Northville

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  • 7. Holland

    Holland is on the west side of the state, and it’s famous for its Dutch heritage. Who hasn’t heard of the Tulip Festival? It’s a popular spring event that draws people from all over the world. Holland is a charming town to visit any time of the year, though.

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  • 6. Paradise is located in the Upper Peninsula about 70 miles northwest of the Mackinac Bridge.

    Paradise really is, well, paradise. The small town is located in the Upper Peninsula about 70 miles northwest of the Mackinac Bridge. It’s surrounded by water, as Paradise has Lake Superior to its north and east, the Tahquamenon Falls State Park to its west, and the National Hiawatha Forest to its south, as noted by Pure Michigan.

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  • 5. Saugatuck

    Saugatuck is another one of my favorite spots to visit year-round. My uncle lives fairly close to there, so I visit the small shops in the summer. Even though some of those shops are closed in the summer, it’s still a beautiful area to visit anytime. It’s off Lake Michigan.

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  • 4. Ludington

    Ludington has plenty of beautiful beaches. This small town is on the coast of Lake Michigan and offers lots of beach area, outdoors activities and more. Stearns Park Beach is a popular spot.

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  • 3. Pentwater

    Another special spot on the west side of the state is Pentwater. This little village is off Lake Michigan and offers pristine, sandy beaches. It’s also smaller than Ludington, but nearby, so if you want a smaller place to escape while in the area, it’s a good pick.

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  • 2. Marquette

    Going up north, Marquette is a choice spot for a trip. Since it’s so far north, it’s very cold in the winter, but if you love snow, then it’s a great choice. Marquette offers lots of nature and outdoor activities.

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  • 1. Petoskey

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Anne Erickson started her radio career shortly after graduating from Michigan State University and has worked on-air in Detroit, Flint, Toledo, Lansing and beyond. As someone who absolutely loves rock, metal and alt music, she instantly fell in love with radio and hasn’t looked back. When she’s not working, Anne makes her own music with her band, Upon Wings, and she also loves cheering on her favorite Detroit and Michigan sports teams, especially Lions and MSU football. Anne is also an award-winning journalist, and her byline has run in a variety of national publications. You can also hear her weekends on WRIF.

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