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Davenport bar owner pays it forward on Christmas

Most bartenders are known for a specialty drink they serve. “I make probably the best Bud Light bottle there is in the place,” said Eric Ludtke, own...

Most bartenders are known for a specialty drink they serve.

"I make probably the best Bud Light bottle there is in the place," said Eric Ludtke, owner of Gunchie's in Davenport.

Even with his camouflage hat on, Eric Ludtke can't disguise the fact that he's not really a bartender.  Bottle or can, every drink the bar owner serves has a purpose.

"When I bought this place four years ago, we were trying to figure out what we wanted to do for Christmas. Do we want to be open? Do we want to be closed?" he said.

He decided to keep Gunchie's open, but give his employees Christmas night off. Instead, he would make the drinks himself with his friend Chris Hagedorn.

"Instead of just saying, 'Okay the tips come to us,' we decided to donate to a children's organization or charity," said Ludtke.

Last Christmas, they raised $600 dollars from tips.

"I just feel blessed. I really do. I'm a lucky guy, so I always try to pay that forward to people," said Ludtke.

This year, all the money is going to the Muscular Dystrophy Association.

"Without a doubt, people want to help, ya know? And this gives them an opportunity to get together, laugh, have a good time and then do something good," said Ludtke.

"I think it's something that he doesn't have to do. You know he takes time away from his own family on Christmas day to come down here," said Kerry Apa, a bartender at Gunchie's.

Sitting next to her was her son Brant.

"My son has FSHD, which is a type of muscular dystrophy," said Apa.

So what her boss is doing,

"It means everything, it really means everything. I don't want to talk too much about it cause I probably will cry," said Apa.

Whether he's opening his specialty Bud Light or a Coors.

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