 |
| |||||||||||
|
|
| |||||||||||
Each week our Boomer-In-Charge, Hershel Chicowitz, has something to say about life, society, or what's going on... from the perspective of a baby boomer, This is what's on his mind the week of August 9:
A new Wendy's fast food restaurant opened up by the university here in Tampa last month, I had not been to a new fast food restaurant in a long time and had forgotten what a pleasant experience it can be, There was a moderate crowd, but the service was fast and friendly. The employees were sharp; their shirts were clean and tucked into their pants; they got my order right the first time; and the Great Biggie Fries were even filled to the top of the bag. It was quite an experience, indeed, The fries had a slight lemon-Palmolive taste to them; but I figure that's because they had recently washed the storage bin, It took a little getting used to, but I can live with that.
That is a far cry from the Wendy's up on 56th Street, near my house. Granted, that Wendy's has been there for a while, But it bears absolutely no resemblance to the places that founder Dave Thomas visits in the commercials, This particular dive looks more like the Chinese embassy in Kosovo than a proud member of one of America's largest and most successful restaurant chains, If the real Wendy - Dave Thomas's daughter, for whom the chain is named - ever visited that place, she'd demand a name change, and plead for immediate admission to the witness protection program.
But that seems to be the pattern, doesn't it? A new fast food restaurant opens up, and the shine and quality service lasts about six weeks. After that, the place begins to look like an overcrowded, understaffed day care center run by Jeffrey Dahmer, and the employees treat you like you owe them something 'cause they acknowledged your presence.
I heard that Wendy's opens a new restaurant every three days, I figure that Wendy's and the other chains utilize what I call "starter crews." These are well-paid and highly experienced workers who understand the term "fast food," clean underwear, and know how to use a toothbrush. Think of them as the SWAT squad for fast food restaurants. They are assigned to a restaurant when it opens. Members of these elite teams fill the fries up to the top of the bag, know what "hold the sauce" means, and can make change without having to count on their fingers. Then, just as you get accustomed to real service, they are shipped off to open another restaurant in another town. You'll never see them again, They are replaced by the best and the brightest products of social promotion in our nation's public school system.
It must be during these first six weeks that Dave Thomas visits the new restaurant. If Dave Thomas' limo ever broke down in front of my nearby Wendy's, he'd take one look inside and put a bag over his head and hope nobody recognized him.
Several years ago I went to a new McDonald's on Jimmy Carter Blvd. in Norcross, Georgia, and ordered my standard fare: "a grill order on a quarter-pounder: plain; nothing on it; absolutely, totally, completely, plain; nothing on it... plain." As usual, it came with all sorts of stuff on it. When I pointed this out to the new, well-dressed shift manager, she not only rushed me a new quarter-pounder the way I wanted it, she also refunded my entire purchase price! Whew! I marked this place on my map for future reference, But when the same thing happened several weeks later, that manager was nowhere to be found, She was part of the starter crew, and obviously had moved on to another location.
Sometimes I fantasize about being a fast food, starter crew groupie, trailing the starter crew all over the country from one new restaurant to another, It must be a hard life. But believe me, it's even harder to get a plain quarter-pounder.
Remember when Burger King used to proclaim in their commercials, "Hold the pickle, hold the lettuce; special orders don't upset us"? I suppose that may be true, but when I go to a Burger King, "don't upset us" means, "We'll get you what we want, when we want, Now, don't upset us, we're on a break."
Anyway, I figure I've got about a month before I have to cross this new Wendy's off my list, But my vacation is coming up soon, So if you have a new fast food restaurant opening up in your area, please let me know. My travel plans are flexible, and those shiny, new name tags and crisp, clean paper hats are a huge turn on!
A Boomer Replies:
"I have actually worked in starter crews at one of the big boxes in the hardware chains, Months after I left the stores I have returned to find mediocre at best service from the lowest common denominator in the retail employment sector, I can't see this changing even if the monetary rewards are there, It still has that stigma: "you want fries with that?" - Mike
If you want to write more, we're open to offerings from other boomers. If you have something to say of interest to boomers, write it as well as you can in 700-900 words, and send it to us, We can't guarantee we'll publish it, but we'll surely consider it.
For more of Hershel's essays, check the BBHQ Archives or the Boomer Essays.
| The BBHQ Album of the Month is "Old Friends Live on Stage (Deluxe Edition) (2 CD/1 DVD)," by Simon & Garfunkel. If you were fortunate enough to see them in concert last year, I do not have to sell you. The concert was terrific! This album collection includes 55 songs, plus their new recording, "Citizen of the Planet," and one of the songs sung by the Everly Brothers during the concert. The DVD was recorded during their concert in Madison Square Garden in 2003. For any S&G fan, this is a must have! But then, you knew that already, didn't you? |
 |
|
The BBHQ Book of the Month is
"Vinyl Highway," by
Dee Dee Phelps. You remember her as Dee Dee, of Dick and Dee Dee.
Together, they took a decade long ride on the rock and roll roller
coaster. It was a heck of a ride! Dick Clark, Quincy Jones, the Beach
Boys, Glenn Campbell, Dionne Warwick, Bobby Vinton... Dick and Dee Dee
rubbed shoulders with all of them. This is her "behind the scenes" story.
It's pretty cool.
|
 | ||
 
|
|   |
Copyright © 1999-2008, Baby Boomer HeadQuarters (BBHQ); All rights reserved.