Customers step up to help lone restaurant employee working a busy shift

When Ethan Crispo walked into a Waffle House in Birmingham, Alabama, earlier this month and found just one man working, he was ready to turn around and look for a midnight snack elsewhere.

There were about 30 customers that night, Crispo said, and just one man — an employee named Ben — cooking, serving, and acting as cashier. Before he could leave, Crispo saw a diner stand up, walk behind the counter, and grab an apron. He started washing dishes, and was soon joined by another customer, who grabbed a coffee pot and started to fill up cups around the restaurant. "It was a smooth transition," Crispo told CNN.

The pair cleared tables and stacked dishes, freeing up Ben to cook and work the cash register. A spokesperson for Waffle House said there was a scheduling mix-up, which resulted in Ben being the only person on duty. Crispo told CNN he was amazed to see strangers coming together to help a person in need. "I've never seen anything like this ever happen, nor will I again, probably," he said. "It was one of my most memorable experiences."

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