Gus's Good Times Deli posted a dire message on its Twitter account last weekend.

"Desperately trying to keep the doors open," the restaurant's account tweeted Friday. "The pandemic has stopped just about everything but rent/utilities! We are gonna hang as long as we can and try everything we can."

The community responded in strong fashion to support the iconic restaurant located near the University of Tennessee's campus.

Aaron Hale, co-owner of Gus's along with Gerald Nelson since 2002, said he spent about six hours on the phone on both Saturday and Sunday taking orders.

“It’s kept us going at least another month or two months," Hale said. "We’ll see how it goes. It doesn’t have to be this. It just has to be a fraction of this. Who knows how long the stay at home order is going to last. There’s a lot of people really hurting that lost their jobs or don’t have their jobs. It’s just amazing to get the support."

Among the supporters: Donde Plowman. The UT chancellor tweeted a photo Tuesday night showing her takeout order featuring a pair of dinner baskets.

"One way we can help our community during these challenging times is to support local businesses," Plowman tweeted. "I made a carry out order for dinner from @GusGoodTimesDel and it was delicious! I highly recommend the shrimp basket and the bbq beef sandwich. #AllInThisTogether"

The deli, located at 815 Melrose Place just off Cumberland Avenue, has expanded its delivery area to about a 6-mile radius and also pumped sales of its merchandise, including orange and white T-shirts and koozies.

The deli shares a close tie with the university. Its walls are covered in Vols photos and memories, and it has served the likes of Peyton Manning and Reggie White.

Last fall, Vols coach Jeremy Pruitt made a run by Gus's after a Saturday football victory over South Carolina to order some fries for his wife, Casey, who was pregnant.

The deli is especially popular as late-night haunt for students, but UT's students were told not to return to campus last month after spring break due to the coronavirus pandemic. The university has gone to remote online classes.

Tennessee restaurants are limited to delivery, takeout and drive-thru orders because of the pandemic, and Gus's has taken a hit, like many restaurants.

Hale's wife, Shannon, runs Gus's social media. She posted a heartfelt note to the deli's Twitter account on Saturday.

"We don't want to go down without a fight," the note read, "so like all good Vols we are gonna fight til our last breath. We have been here for 39 years and are hoping desperately to see 40."

Supporters of the deli stepped up. The deli nearly sold out of fries Sunday before receiving a new shipment. T-shirt sales surged, too, with one order coming as far as Shanghai.

"I wouldn’t have expected anything like this," Hale said. "It’s hard to even put into words, the amount of gratitude and love we’ve felt. We’ve just been there a really long time. We opened in 1981. A lot of people have spent a lot of time there, eaten a lot of really good meals there. It’s something special to them, not just us.”

Hale, 46, has had two jobs in his life. He bagged groceries in high school before becoming a delivery man at Gus's when he was 19. He never left the deli and ascended to co-owner.

"It’s my entire life’s work," he said.

The outpouring of support in the past week has given Hale encouragement. Business was strong enough over the weekend that Hale brought a few employees back to work this week to help with the uptick in orders.

“Hopefully we can keep it going until this over and for another 40 years," he said. "I just want everybody to understand how much we love all of our customers and how grateful we are for all of this.”

Gus's is filling food, beer and merchandise orders. Food and beverage orders can be placed by calling 865-525-9485. Merchandise orders can be made by messaging the restaurant's social media pages.

Blake Toppmeyer covers University of Tennessee football. Email him at blake.toppmeyer@knoxnews.com and follow him on Twitter @btoppmeyer. If you enjoy Blake’s coverage, consider a digital subscription that will allow you access to all of it. Current subscribers can click here to join Blake's FREE text group offering updates and analysis on Vols football.