Massachusetts restaurant owner pleasantly surprises staff with unexpected trip to Disney

In Hull, Massachusetts, the proprietor of a restaurant on the South Shore has pleasantly shocked her workers by organizing an unforgettable journey. Jessica Travis has owned "Toast" in Hull for nearly three years now, and she purchased the establishment in 2019 when she was working three jobs and had three children. Despite the challenges posed by the pandemic, she persevered and kept her business afloat.

As a newcomer to the restaurant business, Travis expressed apprehension that her new venture would fail right from the start.

Travis stated, "It was a daunting time because I had lost all of my staff, and I had to recruit a new team, so the future seemed uncertain when I first arrived."

Travis mentioned that just two workers from the previous owner decided to stay, and one of them is now an 18-year-old named Madi Grainger. "I've been working here for four years," Grainger remarked, "and I had confidence that she would transform this establishment into something truly remarkable.”

Travis shared that she recruited an entirely new team who have stood by her through good times and bad. "They are dedicated and extremely loyal," she stated. "We have a close-knit bond like a family."

As a gesture of gratitude, Travis arranges an annual Christmas celebration for her team and presents them with "Toast" hoodies or gift certificates with heartfelt messages. Travis stated, "I've been doing a Christmas party every year, but since it has been three years now and we've endured a lot of tumultuous and unpredictable times, I wanted to do something more significant this time." Grainger added, "We usually get together here in the evening, order takeout, and have a good time playing games."

Travis decided to switch things up this year. She started by giving her staff small gift bags containing Mickey Mouse ears and sunglasses. Then, she dumped a 30-piece puzzle on the table and instructed them to put it together as quickly as possible. Travis explained, "They were all scrambling to put the pieces together, trying to read it, and then they suddenly realized, 'Wait, are we going to Disney?' They all started screaming and yelling, and it was an amazing moment. It was the best feeling ever." Grainger expressed, "At first, we all thought it was a joke. We were like, 'Seriously?' And then she confirmed it, and we were all excited and happy. It was so much fun.”

Travis wanted to treat her team to a trip where they could relax and have a good time together. Not only is she gifting approximately 15 workers an all-inclusive week-long journey to Florida, but their families as well. Travis shared, "I believe we all deserve it because we work so hard. It's not just because they have been so committed and loyal, and have been with me every step of the way, but also because my mother passed away in 2016 and left me some money, which I have kept aside. I thought, what better way to use it than to take everyone on a vacation? It's time to let go of that and do something good."

The trip is scheduled for May.

For the week-long all-expense-paid trip to Florida in May, Travis will close her restaurant while they head to Disney and Universal Studios. According to Grainger, "Just knowing that she cares about us that much it just means so much to us, knowing she would do something that huge for all of us. Working here, it’s changed my life. Becoming a part of this family, becoming a part of what has been built here, this place is so amazing and I’m just so grateful."