CRYSTAL LAKE – Facing bankruptcy, Nick's Pizza & Pub owner Nick Sarillo sent a plea to the 16,000 people on his bulk email list in September 2011 urging them to patronize his restaurants in Crystal Lake and Elgin.

Sarillo, of Crystal Lake, sent the email over objections from a public relations firm he had hired while trying to get his business back on track. After over-borrowing to expand just ahead of the recession, he found his company on the verge of collapse with the jobs of more than 200 employees on the line.

"If within these next four weeks we could see a large increase in sales at either of our restaurants, we could still pull through," Sarillo wrote in the email that he credits with helping to save his business. "SO MY FINAL REQUEST IS FOR EACH OF YOU TO COME TO NICK'S NOW AND TELL AS MANY PEOPLE AS POSSIBLE TO COME NOW!"