A virtual happy hour with friends may have saved a Towson woman’s business

Melanie Wagner has owned Charles Village Pub and Patio for about twenty years, but because of the COVID-19 pandemic, she thought it could possibly come to an end.

OF LOSING HER BUSINESS BECAUSEOF THE COVI━19 PANDEMIC.

THENHER FRIENDS CAME UP WITH ANIDEA TO NOT ONLY POTENTIALLYSAVE IT BUT TO ALSO HELP THEPEOPLE WHO ARE SAVING US.WMA━2 NEWS RAY STRICKLAND HASTHE STORY OF HOW A VIRTUALHAPPY HOUR AMONG FRIENDSTURNED INTO A COMMUNITY EFFORTTO FEED HEALTHCARE WORKERS ANDFIRST RESPONDERS.“We were on a zoom conferencecall and Melanie came to usand said”“I think we aregoing to lose.

You know therestaurant” ThatMelanie Wagner, the owner ofCharles Village Pub in Towsontold her friends feeling thebusiness sheyears could be coming to anend.“I just didnwould make it” Wagner saysits been a struggle to stayafloat during the coronaviruspandemic But during a virtualhappy hour her friends came upwith an idea that couldpotentially save her business“One of our friends said Ilike to donate meals umm weall jumped on it and saidtha” One ofWagnerBennett says they decided tobuy meals from Charles VillagePub and donate them to St.Josep“Itimportant to support peoplewho are literally riskingtheir lives to save us” Theidea, born during the virtualhappy hour is now theOneTeamOneGoal initiative LateMarch is when Wagner startedselling meals for 12.50 at thepub.

With help from herfriends, they25,000 dollars donating about2,000 meals to firstresponders and healthcareworkers.“We have an easy jobcompared to what theydoing” Jay Atkinson works atJanny Montgomery Scott.

He andc━workers bought 130 mealsfrom the pub to donate to St.Josep“wehappy to be able contribute ina small way””Wedefinitely not getting tostores to buy our own food”Nicole Beeson is a nurse atSt.

Joeworking in health care duringa pandemic is stressful butreceiving these meals bringsher a little relief.“itbolstering us to see ourcommunity and our neighborsare standing right here withus and fighting the battletogether” Wagner says itrewarding to help frontlineworkers adding that shethankful for her friends andcommunity who have ralliedaround her during a difficulttime.“I cansupported us like that.

Ithumbling” Reporting inTowsonRay Strickland WMA━2NeTHE BALTIMORE COUNTY