UPDATE: Isleton Business Owner Flooded With Job Seekers

ISLETON (CBS13) — A fed-up local businessman blamed the bad economy for bad work ethic. Monday night, he made a plea on CBS13: he was looking for good people to hire.

Calls poured into the newsroom, and CBS13's Maria Medina went back to the man's shop Tuesday, where every position is now filled.

When Randy Garrett, who owns Oxbow Marine Canvas and Upholstery in Isleton, went into work Tuesday morning, he said he already had three people waiting in line ready to work for him, and then the phone wouldn't stop ringing.

"In excess of 50 or 60 calls," Randy said. "I want to apologize for the people I haven't called and the people I won't call."

Randy is overwhelmed and overjoyed with job applications. But just one day ago, a much different Randy sat down with CBS13.

"People have forgotten what it's like to get out there and work for a living," he said Monday.

For an entire year, Randy couldn't find anyone to work for him, claiming no one fit the one qualification he was looking for: a strong work ethic.

So he called on CBS13 for help "and the calls started rolling in."

Sandy Montanez is one of five people offered a job Tuesday.

"I thought 'oh my goodness, this would be the perfect opportunity for me," she said.

"She has those work ethics," Randy said. "She has what it takes."

A now she has a new job during the holidays. But Randy says he's no St. Nick.

"It's a gift to us," he said. "We've got something that we've been hoping for for the last year."
The first new person working for Randy clocks in on Friday.