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CHARLOTTE -- Two Southend restaurant employees were robbed at gunpoint just minutes apart on Friday.

One incident occurred at the Greek Isles restaurant on Bland Street in Southend. The second was less than a mile away at Sullivan's Steakhouse on South Boulevard. In both instances, the employees were approached by a man with a gun demanding money.

Police said the robbers may have used the Light Rail to get away, revealing a negative consequence of the attractive amenity for the Southend.

“It brings so much business in, but it can bring some bad side effects,” said Shawn Cox, an employee at Tavern on the Tracks.

According to management, after a busy Friday night, an employee of Sullivan's Steakhouse was headed to his car when he was robbed by a man with a gun who got cash and a debit card. The suspect was last seen running on Tremont Avenue.

“It's about an hour before everything closes down,” said Trace Manning, an employee at La Paz restaurant. “So it's pretty scary.

Less than 10 minutes earlier, there was a similar incident at the Greek Isles restaurant. An employee was at the end of his shift ready to go home. He said he was looking forward to having a long weekend. Not far from the restaurant he was mugged. He did not want to go on camera. He said he wants to put the whole situation behind him.

“You come to make money and live, turns out you get held up at gunpoint,” said Cox.

This incident is another reason why restaurant managers at the Tavern on the Tracks are stressing the importance of the buddy system to its employees. “I have everyone look over their shoulder and look out for each other,” said Cox.

Although both incidents occurred just minutes and less than one mile apart, police have not said they are connected.

The good news is that no shots were fired, and no one was hurt. One of suspects was described as wearing jean shorts and a black hoodie.

If you have any information could help investigators, you're asked to call police.