BAR PAYS EMPLOYEES WITH SOUVENIR BANKNOTES

Al Fleury remembers the first dollar bill that went up inside The Goat six years ago. He wrote "Al 2014" and drew a goat in permanent marker to celebrate the opening of his new bar.

"I think it's been covered over four times," said Fleury, who in the last week has worked to pull down all the scribbled-on dollar bills that have been stapled there by patrons. The bills are now being counted and exchanged by Provident Bank, then donated to Fleury's employees who have been laid off due to the coronavirus pandemic.

"I think there's a lot of money there," said Fleury, who also owns Wally's Pub and The Goat in Portsmouth. "It's the right thing to do."

Fleury's bars are still open but currently running on minimal staff to serve takeout to comply with the governor's order banning dine-in service through at least May 4. Fleury announced he would donate the money to his staff in an April 9 Facebook post, offering free burgers and adult frappes for a year to whoever guessed the amount.

Goat manager Larry Scarlotto said there's no way of guessing how much money is on the wall since no one ever kept track. He has been with The Goat since it opened and has always thought the bar should donate the money to a worthy cause at some point. He said there are more than single bills - Sully Erna from Godsmack once came into The Goat after a concert and put up a $100 bill.

"It took on a life of its own," Scarlotto said, adding the hope is for The Goat to have patrons come in and put up more dollar bills to make new memories once restrictions on dine-in service are lifted. Some people have called and requested they keep their special dollar, which Scarlotto said is fine as long as they are willing to donate a replacement.

"You would never think how many are on the wall," said Lizzie Wright, who was working in her second year at The Goat before she got laid off. She has been helping take down the bills with other employees and was surprised to see just how many layers of bills are stapled on top of each other. Some taken down this week offered support in the pandemic. "COVID-19 can't stop us," read one she found.

To read the complete article, see:
Hampton Beach bar owner peels cash from walls, gives it to staff during COVID-19 crisis (https://www.seacoastonline.com/news/20200416/hampton-beach-bar-owner-peels-cash-from-walls-gives-it-to-staff-during-covid-19-crisis)

To read the earlier E-Sylum article, see:
BAR PAYS EMPLOYEES WITH SOUVENIR BANKNOTES (https://www.coinbooks.org/v23/esylum_v23n15a42.html)

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