“Taco is a personable guy and was chatting me up,” Osborne said. “He asked if I worked across the street and mentioned he wanted to get his employee a car. We talked about a few options.”

Osborne said he went back to work, pulled a few vehicles up to the front of the lot, Taco got cash, and Osborne got to select a reliable automobile.

“I’ve been doing this for 10 years,” Osborne said, “I’ve never seen an owner take care of an employee this way. It really makes them feel valued.”

Bailey said when Hernandez told him of the plan, it came as a surprise.

“He had just loaned me money to fix my house,” Bailey said. “I’m paying him back and now this.”

Hernandez said the money for the car isn’t a loan and there are no strings attached. He just expects his chef to be at work on time.

“I haven’t had to pick him up one time,” he said. “It’s been nice. I try to do my best for (my employees) because they do a good job for me. We all just try to make a living.”

This isn’t the first time Hernandez has helped an employee. He hired a woman a few years ago and then discovered she was living with her five children in a van.