Proprietor Witt-Miller: Cougar Country will be back
'stronger than ever'
By Alysen Boston, Gazette Reporter
Whitman County (Colfax) Gazette Feb
14, 2019
((Signs are seen Tuesday outside Cougar Country.))
After KXLY News in Spokane reported Friday an employee
claimed Cougar Country, Pullman's beloved drive-in diner, was closing, the
rumor hit social media with people who described themselves as employees taking
to Twitter and Facebook to detail the business's troubles, namely bounced
paychecks.
Rhonda Witt-Miller, whose parents opened Cougar Country in
1973, said she will be coming out of retirement to take control of the
business.
"I truly believe that we will survive, and we'll come
back bigger and stronger than ever," she said. "As for customers,
please be patient."
Currently, Witt-Miller is applying for financing to remain
open, and she said the business will again serve customers once it's approved.
She estimated that will be sometime next week.
Witt-Miller, who retired from the business in 2014 after a
heart attack, said her number one goal is to pay her employees.
"The crew, the managers, everybody here has worked
their butts off," Witt-Miller said. "They deserve pay for working. No
one should work for free."
((A sign posted Feb. 8 outside Cougar Country Drive-In is
seen Tuesday. The restaurant remains closed.))
She said she also intends to improve customer service and
pay suppliers.
Witt-Miller took over Cougar Country's operations after her
father died in 2008. After an accountant discovered the business's numbers
weren't adding up for more than a year, Witt-Miller said she suspected money
was being stolen.
"I will have it investigated," she told the
Gazette.
On Friday, following rumors of the closure, Witt-Miller said
the drive-in had a huge turnout.
"It was like everyone wanted their last burger,"
she said. "It made me cry."
Witt-Miller said she's had an outpouring of support from the
community, with employees volunteering to work Friday and some residents
offering money.
"It's overwhelming," Witt-Miller said. "My
husband keeps saying, 'Quit crying, baby,' but, you know, it's my life."
