Like many North Texas restaurateurs, Nir Sela is having trouble finding employees to work during the COVID-19 pandemic.
So the owner of Layered restaurant and Room One-Eleven bar in McKinney told WFAA-TV (Channel 8) he is using an innovative way to combat a shortage in staff.
Sela is using a robot to work as a host, greeting customers at Layered.
The “Bellabot” can lead guests to tables — and even tell jokes. The robot host can also deliver food and drinks on its four trays.
“No accidents so far, no spillage, and no breakage,” Sela told WFAA-TV.
The bot is no replacement for human staffers, Sela told the station, but said that finding employees is a challenge in the current landscape.
“Maybe five applied in the last three months. A lot of people left the industry during COVID and decided not to return to it,” Sela told the station, saying he has increased his wages to between $22-$24 to attract workers.
Sela and employees are asking patrons to submit a name for the Bellabot.
