Via iStockphoto / @brad.bartow TikTok
A Missouri man’s Taco Bell took 42 minutes to receive when he went late night. To his surprise, he noticed something with the worker.
Taco Bell and late-night cravings are a match made in heaven. When the sun goes down, temptations to get Taco Bell rise drastically. One Missouri man went to Taco Bell in the evening, but he wasn’t expecting the wait he had to endure. He says it took 42 minutes just to get his meal. And his response was quite empathetic.
In a TikTok with over 831,800 views, Brad Bartow (@brad.bartow) says he noticed how there was only one worker in the location where he was trying to order food.
“She’s the only one working here, and look at this,” he says.
One teenage Taco Bell worker is behind the counter and is doing every single task herself. A massive line forms in the drive thru, and a group of men wait inside. What’s shocking is the Taco Bell worker’s body language. She is seemingly beaming with joy and smiling through the chaos.
“I waited 42 minutes, and she’s in there all alone,” Bartow shares.
Bartow felt sympathy for the Taco Bell worker and decided to ask for her Cash App. She was hesitant to give it out, as she didn’t know if this was allowed.
“‘I have to call my boss,’” he recalls her saying.
Bartow says he believed the boss needed to be contacted but for a different reason: to get the worker more help.
Missouri Man Raises Money For Lone Taco Bell Worker
Bartow succeeded and got the workers Cash App. He created a GoFundMe to raise money for the young employee.
“That gal’s in there just working her tail off. The fellas that were acting all wild in there tried to help her. She didn’t want them to come back there because she didn’t want to get in trouble with her boss,” he continues.
Bartow imagined what he would’ve done in her shoes.
“I would probably have walked out and just left the place open,” he shares.
The GoFundMe has since raised $13,500. Bartow provided an update, as he has been in communication with the worker’s family. He shared that the Taco Bell worker is going to use the funds to purchase a vehicle and said the family is grateful for the donations.
“Her Manager Needs To Be Fired”
Viewers in the comment section were genuinely impressed by the commitment the Taco Bell employee showed.
“It takes a strong person to run a fast food place by themselves! This is so sweet. She deserves it all,” one TikTok commenter wrote.
“I used to work with her. She’s a great kid! Unfortunately, that Taco Bell does stuff like that often,” another added.
“And with a damn SMILE on her face,” a third chimed in.
Other viewers believe this is not a good look for Taco Bell.
“Her manager needs to be fired,” one commented.
“How embarrassing for Taco Bell,” another shared.
“Taco Bell ain’t responding on this one,” a third noticed.
Why Does Taco Bell Get More Busy At Night?
According to Yahoo, Taco Bell has long dominated the late-night game and is a big factor for the business’s overall bottom line. In 2024, Taco Bell had $17 million in total sales, and the most popular times for business are at night.
Taco Bell became the go-to late night spot when the “fourthmeal” marketing campaign took off in 2006. Specially calling for the late night crowd, Taco Bell became a crucial part of how people ended their nights.
In a push to get customers to come in during the daytime, Taco Bell has launched new marketing campaigns, Adweek reports. The campaign features Jason Sudeikis, an avid Taco Bell fan, who believes that Taco Bell can be eaten during any time of day.
BroBible has also contacted Bartow by TikTok direct message and commented on the post as well as Taco Bell by email. The story will be updated if either party responds.