After customers drove staff to tears, a restaurant closed to give employees a ‘day of kindness’

“As a small-business owner, I refuse to let my staff be treated less than human, and will continue to stand up for everyone in the service industry,” Regina Castellano, who is also the restaurant’s chef, said in a statement to The Washington Post. The Castellanos declined a further interview and did not respond to questions about whether employees were paid for their reduced hours and whether some of them are tipped.