Owner credits Facebook with saving his restaurant

The economy has shut down many Bay area restaurants, and the owner of the St. Pete Brasserie thought his was next.

Andrew 'Wilco' Wilkins was about to close up business when he said he swallowed his pride and posted his dilemma on Facebook. Now Wilkins credits the social networking site for saving his restaurant.

Business had been slow at the restaurant for the past few months. Wilkins said things had been good when he first opened last November, but it dropped off in March.

Employee Danielle Webb said she was worried about the fate of the restaurant.

"When you're not having that business, people aren't coming in, no one's making money," she said. "Not just the restaurant but all of us as employees as well."

Nobody was more worried than Wilkins, who posted the following message to Facebook as a "cry for mercy:"

"The situation at St. Pete Brasserie is dire. They are poised to close their doors if a miracle does not happen this week. Please support our local, independent restaurants. They have a great menu with an inspired chef and good prices. Prix fixe is $17. 15 jobs are at stake."

Customers immediately reacted to the post and did their part to keep the restaurant open.

"I think it was very clever of him to do it, and it was a very honest thing and probably very hard for him to do that," said customer Donna Gilbert, who ate at the restaurant four times last week.

Customer Toni Spagnoli said she pitched in by spreading the word.

"When I saw the post, I immediately re-posted it," she said. "And that's how things turn viral on Facebook."

The outpouring of support was so massive that Wilkins said he had to reopen the dining room on the other side of the restaurant, which has lain dormant for months.

"I was blown away, yeah, blown away," he said. 

Wilkins said his sales went up 40 percent. He said his post also attracted the attention of some potential investors.

A few days later, he took to Facebook again, this time with a different message:

"Well, thanks to the overwhelming support shown by our wonderful loyal customers, St. Pete Brasserie has a new lease of life. So please spread the word that the doors are staying open."

Wilkins wants to keep customers coming in, so he is offering 25 percent off the entire check during certain nights for teachers, hairdressers and the restaurant's "friends" on Facebook.