Owner of Helberg Barbecue steps up to help DiCampli’s Italian Ristorante after power outage hurt business, ruined food
WACO, Texas (KWTX) - A Central Texas barbecue pitmaster who lost everything in a fire last year is reaching out to help another local restaurant owner who had to shut down his business for the weekend due to power outages in the wake of a powerful storm.
Overnight storms Thursday night knocked out power to Di Campli’s Italian Restaurant in Waco. The power was not restored until Sunday, resulting in the popular eatery being closed Friday and Saturday. The restaurant suffered an estimated hit of $40,000 in sales.
More than $5,000 in food, including fresh produce and proteins, was also wasted with no way to keep the food refrigerated.
Phillip Helberg, owner of Helberg Barbeque in Waco, says he knows what it’s like to face challenges and need a helping hand after his restaurant was destroyed in a fire in late November 2023. Helberg put out a plea on social media offering to donate half of the revenue generated by its Italian sandwich on Saturday to Di Campli’s and then match the proceeds.
The day of sales resulted in a $1,000 gift.
“Spur of the moment. We prayed on it and saw a friend in need whose business had been out of power for a couple of days, our friends over at Di Campli’s,” Helberg said. “We’ve been in that situation before. We know what it’s like. We know how devastating it can be for a small independent restaurant.”
DiCampli’s Owner Massimo Di Campli said losing power and closing even for two days took a big toll on his restaurant, so to have a fellow owner reach out to help, meant a lot.
“It means a lot to us. I’m a big fan of the community helping each other,” Di Campli said.
Helberg Barbeque was hesitant to talk to KWTX about the gift as they never wanted publicity for the kind act.
They simply wanted to pass on the kindness they’d been shown after patrons and fellow restaurant owners supported the barbeque place which is still operating out of a temporary location while they rebuild.
A GoFundMe for Helberg Barbeque raised nearly $90,000.
“We’ve been given so much through the last six months recovering from the fire that we had after Thanksgiving,” Helberg said. “The community really rallied around us and a lot of our friends in the industry rallied around us and lifted us up and we serve a good and gracious God. We’ve been given much more than we deserve and Luke 12:48 says from whom much is given, must is required.”
“It was a big blessing,” Massimo said. “They are a really sweet family. I was here in the restaurant when they called and asked me if it was okay to raise some funds which obviously made my heart melt.”
Di Campli’s reopened for business Monday. It is located at 6500 Woodway Drive Suite E.
Helberg Barbeque is open in its temporary space on Highway 6 in between Tucker Hall and The Bar None Country Store.
They’re hoping to be back in their original space with a new building in six to eight months.
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