By the end, Merlotte's is full of customers but not a single regular character who works there is present.
Sam, Terry, Arlene, and Holly have skipped work to deal with the fire damage. Tommy has shifted to appear as Sam, fires Sookie when she tells him she can't work that day and then mysteriously disappears to Sam's Trailer where he has sex with Sam's girlfriend. Lafayette is in Mexico with Jesus. This leaves only Jessica working to run the whole place and just as she is about to take her first order, she senses Jason's fear and runs off to take care of him, leaving the restaurant full of customers but with no hostess, no servers, no bartender, no manager, and no cooks.
Sam, Terry, Arlene, and Holly have skipped work to deal with the fire damage. Tommy has shifted to appear as Sam, fires Sookie when she tells him she can't work that day and then mysteriously disappears to Sam's Trailer where he has sex with Sam's girlfriend. Lafayette is in Mexico with Jesus. This leaves only Jessica working to run the whole place and just as she is about to take her first order, she senses Jason's fear and runs off to take care of him, leaving the restaurant full of customers but with no hostess, no servers, no bartender, no manager, and no cooks.