10/10/2026
These are just some of the faces that make The Mulliken Roadhouse what it is, and I want to take a moment to appreciate the people behind the busy day and nights.❤️🍻
Being a bartender or cook at The Mulliken Roadhouse is unique, but also definitely so much more than pouring drinks or making food. And being part of this crew is so much more than clocking in.
It takes incredible patience, strength, thick skin, compassion, and a whole lot of energy. It’s hours on your feet, late nights, early mornings, and working with a small staff. It’s missing kids games, family dinners, weekends, and some days we forget what it’s like to be outside.

It’s cleaning up messes you didn’t make, handling attitudes you didn’t deserve, and finding another smile when you’re already running on empty.
It’s staying those extra hours when you’re making next to nothing because your teammate needs help getting through the rush or finishing what needs to be done. It’s noticing when someone is overwhelmed and stepping in. It’s sharing the work, checking on each other, and knowing when someone needs a laugh, a hug, or a minute to breathe. The care this crew gives each other matters just as much as the care they give our customers.
And to our customers: we share more of life with you than you might realize.
We celebrate birthdays, engagements, new jobs, new babies, and sometimes simply making it through another week. We hear about heartbreak, illness, loss, and new beginnings. Sometimes you sit down after one of the worst days of your life, and we listen because you need somewhere to put it all for a little while.
Strangers become regulars, and regulars become people we care about. We notice when your usual seat is empty. We grieve when you grieve. And when we lose one of you, it hurts long after the bar closes. Those conversations, laughs, and memories stay with us, long after your tab is paid.
There are days we’re carrying our own heartbreak, worry, or exhaustion while trying to make your day better. Sometimes a customer’s frustration lands on us, and we take a breath and keep serving with kindness. Please remember that the person taking care of you has a life and feelings beyond that shift, too. A little grace and kindness go a long way.
This work can test every ounce of energy you have. Your feet hurt, your back hurts, some days you take mental abuse that is unwarranted, and your social battery is gone—and then someone says, “Thank you. I really needed this tonight,” or “my kids chose to come here for dinner.” Those little comments, the appreciation, those moments mean something.
So does seeing a teammate finally catch their breath because you stepped in to help when they were feeling the pressure of what this job is, and when a customer steps in because they to want to help us catch our breath, it means the world to us. So thank you for also seeing us.
To the whole crew, pictured or not:
I see your hard work, your sacrifices, and all the little things you do that most people never notice. Thank you for caring about this place, our customers, and one another. Thank you for showing up when life is hard, so you can take the burden off one another.
It’s exhausting. It’s chaotic. It’s not always glamorous. But sharing it with people who show up for each other makes it pretty damn rewarding. Most of you will never know the dedication this crew brings to The Mulliken Roadhouse, but I do. I see all of you, and I am so grateful for you.
I’m proud to work beside you. The Mulliken Roadhouse wouldn’t feel like home to so many people without you.
Life can be hard, and we never truly know what someone else is carrying. Lead with grace, take a moment to understand, compassion goes a long way, and give a little extra love.
Whether you’re behind the bar or across it, kindness matters—and showing up for one another can make all the difference. 🤍✨🤟🍻
