‘Times are hard, life is beautiful’: How a Richmond chef keeps spirits high amid government shutdown

RICHMOND, Va. (WRIC) -- As the nation enters the second week of this government shutdown, now the ninth-longest in U.S. history, one Richmond restaurant is finding a creative way to lift spirits -- both figuratively and literally.

"Times are hard, life is difficult, life is beautiful, life is strange," said owner and chef of TBT El Gallo, Carlos Ordaz-Nunez. "We just wanted to make things a little bit better."

Ordaz-Nunez said this is why the local Mexican-owned bar and taqueria restaurant is offering a happy hour on certain drinks every hour, until the shutdown ends.

"We said, ‘Let’s do a $6 highball and make an affordable drink program -- every single hour of the day that this shutdown is happening," he said.

TBT El Gallo in Richmond. (Photo: 8News)

TBT El Gallo in Richmond. (Photo: 8News)

TBT El Gallo in Richmond. (Photo: 8News)

The shutdown began after lawmakers in Washington failed to reach an agreement over healthcare funding. Virginia Tech political science professor Karen Hult said it’s unclear when a deal might come.

"That 2018–2019 shutdown was one of the longest in U.S. history, close to 35 days,” Hult said. "We could be on target for that, though it’s hard to tell."

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Hult added that both federal and civilian government workers are directly impacted, as none are receiving paychecks until the shutdown ends.

Still, Ordaz-Nunez said the special is about solidarity, supporting anyone feeling the ripple effects.

"TBT is for la raza. We’re for the people," he said. "It’s for everyone, every single hour of the day that this shutdown is happening. Come in here, get yourself a $6 high highball. At the end of the day, we are very aggressive in our love for our neighborhood and our city."

While the political uncertainty continues, Ordaz-Nunez said TBT El Gallo’s doors will remain open to anyone looking for a sense of community -- and maybe a bit of comfort.

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"The only way things are ever going to change for the better is if we lead with love," he said. "By being aggressively kind and drawing attention to these issues -- and letting people see that as immigrants we're here, we're here as brown people, we're here and we are in love with this country."

To learn more about the restaurant's deal and its hours, click here.