The operator of Mutts in Oklahoma City is seeking a second chance — much like the second chance he’s given his employees — after a storm damaged the restaurant a few weeks ago.
The Oklahoman newspaper reports Mutts owner Omar Molina has been busy cleaning the property at 1400 NW 23rd St. (aka Route 66) since a May 25 storm tore off part of the roof and damaged his food trucks.
Molina is awaiting a decision by landlord Charlie Shadid and insurers whether the Mutts building can be salvaged. Molina said he wants to stay there even if the structure has to be rebuilt from scratch because any other site wouldn’t have the Route 66 charm, along with its A-frame architecture and old-school sign.
For now, Molina launched a GoFundMe page for his employees, who remain out of work while the restaurant is closed. And they’re not just any employees:
Molina had transformed the restaurant into one that specialized in giving a fresh start to wounded people — veterans, young people aging out of foster care, women who escaped the horrors of sex trafficking.
The momentum was on Molina’s side at the start of Memorial Day weekend. Both food trucks were booked for events. A trafficking survivor was well on her way to being promoted to manager of the restaurant. Molina shared social media posts on how employees’ lives were being transformed. […]
“If people are broken, you can help bring them back up,” Molina said. “They get to find their purpose, they find who they are and what they are made of, their perseverance and resilience. I’d remind them we’ve had moments where we are down in our lives. We can either be the victim or we can be victorious. These guys get to choose.”
Molina set a goal of $10,000 on the GoFundMe page. As of Sunday night, more than $2,600 had been raised
Molina holds experience in overcoming adversity. The Navy veteran suffered a back injury that required surgery, 10 screws and relearning to walk again. He eventually became a trainer for federal investigative employees. He formed the Absolute Life Transition Assistance nonprofit organization to help veterans struggling with substance abuse and mental illness.
And using his extensive restaurant experience, he bought Mutts and sought to rebuild other people’s lives as well.
(Images of the Mutts building in Oklahoma City and storm damage via Facebook)
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