SALT LAKE CITY — On Tuesday, local business owner Cameron Treu turned to Twitter to share his concern with how the coronavirus pandemic could impact his company.
“Today is scary. 17 total transactions,” Treu, owner and pit boss of Bam Bams BBQ in Orem, wrote on Twitter that afternoon, the same day Gov. Gary Herbert issued an order that all Utah restaurants and bars suspend their dine-in operations for two weeks.
“It’s the lowest performing lunch service in my seven years of being open. Hopefully the drive thru opening up tomorrow will help. #stressed”
What’s happened in the days since at Bam Bams BBQ, known for its support of BYU athletics, illustrates the importance of supporting local businesses as they deal with the stresses of social distancing and closures in an effort to curb the spread of COVID-19. A local Cougar celebrity even helped in his own way.
On Wednesday, the support poured in as people showed up to utilize the newly opened drive-thru option, sharing photos and thoughts of their experience on social media.
“Got my @BamBamsBBQ for lunch today with the wife! Best BBQ in the state hands down. Go over and grab some food! You won’t regret it,” wrote Twitter user Milo Mitchell.
“We enjoyed @BamBamssBBQ takeout today for lunch at the house. Glad they are open and able to serve the good stuff to folks like us,” said Twitter user Scott Wessman.
Fellow business owner Scott Warner — CEO and founder of Gigg, a software company in American Fork — shared the story of a particularly generous patron who’s buying gift cards from multiple restaurants.
“Today this guy purchased $1,000 in gift cards from @BamBamsBBQ. He is stopping by 10 of his favorite local restaurants and buying 1k in gift cards to support the community during this tough time. You’re a good dude @JimmyRex,” Warner wrote.
Those were just a handful of posts that Bam Bams BBQ shared or retweeted throughout the day.
That night, Treu shared what the support meant to him in a video post on Instagram.
“More than anything, I just wanted to get on here — the day’s ended — and thank everybody for today,” he said. Treu explained the reasoning for his post from the previous day, as he saw the dip in customers become a reality at his restaurant.
“I guess I never really expected the people circling and supporting and rallying around us the way that you all did, not just yesterday but especially today,” Treu said. “Opening that drive-thru today was so scary. I’ve had that drive-thru ready to go for eight months and I’ve just kind of been scared to pull the trigger. I had to today.”
He then expressed appreciation for the Bam Bams workers while describing the frustrations of the first day of the drive-thru option. “It was good for us. We learned a lot,” Treu said.
“It just means the world, with everything that’s going on, with everyone struggling, we’re all dealing with it. That you guys would go out of your way to do that and come get some food,” Treu said later in the video. “It meant the world to me and my family. It meant the world to my staff. It’s just one of those reminders that people are amazing. Even when we’re struggling and going through this tough stuff, man, people can really surprise you.
“I will never forget today, and I just wanted you guys to know that,” he concluded, while adding a call to support other local businesses. “Let’s spread the love. There’s other restaurants going through the same thing. A lot of them aren’t lucky enough to have a drive-thru window. Let’s make it a point to get out there and help them out so they can keep their staff working and keep them paid.”
On day 2 of Bam Bams BBQ being limited to the drive-thru option, a special guest — former BYU quarterback Taysom Hill, now a fan favorite with the New Orleans Saints — stopped by. The moment was captured on video on shared on Twitter by Warner, as Hill grabbed his food, then autographed a BYU helmet.
Hill is currently going through the restricted free agency process, and the Saints placed a first-round tender on the utility player. That means if another team wants to try and sign him away from New Orleans, they must give up a first-round draft pick.
Former BYU tight end Chad Lewis also stopped by Thursday: “If you are hungry, @BamBamsBBQ has the fastest drive (thru) in the state of Utah! Let’s go!!! Thanks Cam!!!!”
Hill’s visit sparked another way for patrons to help out Bam Bams. On Friday, Treu opened a giveaway contest for customers to vie for the chance to win the helmet that Hill signed.
Customers have continued to show their support for Bam Bams on social media.
On Friday, Lewis, who now works as an associate AD of development in the BYU athletics department, shared a list of options for those in the community to support local restaurants.