Funny email from Village Anchor

I also can't believe the naivety of the email itself. If someone is lifting spoons and saltshakers in front of their dining companions do you really think a cute email is going to curtail that habit? Why run the risk of insulting the rest of your diners?

Umm ... Kevin Grainger, the owner, is a big leaguer on the national scene in advertising and media. He's the guy who came up with "Got Milk?" and he's run world-wide media campaigns for Nike. The letter was signed by Kevin, and I don't think Kevin does stupid. I expect he has a pretty good handle on what most of his regulars will think is funny.

No disrespect to to Mr. Grainger or his marketing skills, I was just questioning the effectiveness of the email as a deterrent for theft. Perhaps it wasn't intended as a deterrent, only as a funny whimsical email in which case he succeeded.

[Robin Garr]

Perhaps it wasn't intended as a deterrent, only as a funny whimsical email in which case he succeeded.

That would be my guess: He was writing to his core demographic, and venting. I don't blame him for being PO'ed, but I doubt very much that he really thinks the culprits are among his "regulars." Or, alternatively, if it is, that he might be able to shame them with a chuckle. But what do I know?

Maybe to help them out, if you've got some odd pieces of china or stainless - leave a piece or two at each visit.

Now THAT is a great idea...(insert sound of wheels and gears turning)

Where I work at Sullivan's residence hall at Gardiner Point, we're extremely lucky to get through a week without a few pieces of flatware being sacrificed to the great frightening deity that lives in the garbage disposal. It mangles them to such a degree that I've been saving them to make a mobile out of...I'm going to hang in the the dish pit to remind the dish dogs not to EVER stick their hands in there, I don't care if it's turned off, unplugged, wires have been cut, and the electricity's out to boot.

The other morning when I opened there were FIVE pieces in there...luckily some smartypants looked inside before turning it on :/

well if i cant get my place settings from Village Anchor perhaps Chuy's wont mind

I also can't believe the naivety of the email itself. If someone is lifting spoons and saltshakers in front of their dining companions do you really think a cute email is going to curtail that habit? Why run the risk of insulting the rest of your diners?

Umm ... Kevin Grainger, the owner, is a big leaguer on the national scene in advertising and media. He's the guy who came up with "Got Milk?" and he's run world-wide media campaigns for Nike. The letter was signed by Kevin, and I don't think Kevin does stupid. I expect he has a pretty good handle on what most of his regulars will think is funny.

Past accomplishments and accolades does not leave one incapable of erring.

[Robin Garr]

Past accomplishments and accolades does not leave one incapable of erring.

That's certainly true, but I think what we have here may be humor that's aimed at a specific audience and falls flat with others.

Marsha Marsha Marsha

Garbage disposal? Don't worry - I won't call you out on that one. Haha

Past accomplishments and accolades does not leave one incapable of erring.

That's certainly true, but I think what we have here may be humor that's aimed at a specific audience and falls flat with others.

Unfortunately I don't think anyone I know thought that the "intended humor" was humorous in any way.

When I received this email, I laughed. I thought it was clever. I wasn't offended in the least. I have been told I have a weird sense of humoer though.............

When I received this email, I laughed. I thought it was clever. I wasn't offended in the least. I have been told I have a weird sense of humoer though.............

Maybe my sense of humor is different. I saw that was along the lines of the statement they had (not sure if they still do) on their receipts that said that the speed limit in Anchorage is 25mph, a 25% gratuity here is appreciated. Kind of like trying to make something that's ridiculous sound funny, it just doesn't work.

When I received this email, I laughed. I thought it was clever. I wasn't offended in the least. I have been told I have a weird sense of humoer though.............

I'm with you on this one, Bonnie. Guess you have to have a dry sense of humor to get it.

Or maybe I'm just weird, too.

On the other hand most folks here already know that about me.

I can't believe they sent that email out. I understand it must be frustrating to loose those items but with so many of them missing do they really believe most of them are going out the front door? When I worked in restaurants I remember attending a party at a managers house. His entire home was furnished with equipment from the restaurant. Plates, glassware, silverware, ramekins, napkins even a couple of chairs from the dining room.

I also can't believe the naivety of the email itself. If someone is lifting spoons and saltshakers in front of their dining companions do you really think a cute email is going to curtail that habit? Why run the risk of insulting the rest of your diners?

All,

As Robin pointed out- the email is from the owner, Kevin, who has a wicked sense of humor. This is just one in his weekly diatribe about the odd things customers do/say. Personally, I find them hysterical- it's the only newsletter email I rerad religiously every week.

Keep 'm coming, Kevin!
Deb .

I can't believe they sent that email out. I understand it must be frustrating to loose those items but with so many of them missing do they really believe most of them are going out the front door? When I worked in restaurants I remember attending a party at a managers house. His entire home was furnished with equipment from the restaurant. Plates, glassware, silverware, ramekins, napkins even a couple of chairs from the dining room.

I also can't believe the naivety of the email itself. If someone is lifting spoons and saltshakers in front of their dining companions do you really think a cute email is going to curtail that habit? Why run the risk of insulting the rest of your diners?

All,

As Robin pointed out- the email is from the owner, Kevin, who has a wicked sense of humor. This is just one in his weekly diatribe about the odd things customers do/say. Personally, I find them hysterical- it's the only newsletter email I rerad religiously every week.


Keep 'm coming, Kevin!
Deb .

Wait, let me see if I understand this correctly...
People go to the restaurant, spend their money with them, get added to his mailing list, then receive emails about how annoying they can sometimes be. Is that about it? I can see how to others in the biz such venting might be humorous but for the life of me I cannot see how this sort of 'marketing' would work well. Isn't it a little like, "Hey, and if you sign up for our mailing list I'll tell you what we really think about you!" ?

Just got a follow-up email on this one. I'm pretty sure the original email was a joke.

The Missing Fork E-mail...

Well...In all my writings over the past year, I am pleased to announce that my recent request regarding returning missing silverware at The Village Anchor was well-received, for the most part...and actually created quite the stir in some circles. I want to thank everyone for their suggestions and thoughts about how to better retain and/or retrieve missing utensils and china. And I apologize if I offended anyone-I only meant to offend culprits (I actually didn't even mean to do that) -- including employees as I know that The Village Anchor may well be stocking home bars and buffets with Nicole Miller silverware and Oneida china. (Hmmm...that's why I don't get invited to employee's homes for parties).

Yes, a college friend did remind me that I pocketed a salt and pepper set from a Sizzler Restaurant back in 1986 to adorn my Fraternity house dining room table for a Parent's weekend. But that wasn't near as bad as us making a 2 a.m. visit to the home of the University President to "borrow" all of the ferns off his porch that would be used for the same event. I think we took those back....I think.

Here are my top five favorite suggestions...

Tom McMullen suggests that everyone exit nude.
Mary Pilonero recommends that we monitor guests based on handbag size.
Steve Berry says we should use utensils that nobody would want to take - like Sporks, but that would require changing the menu to softer foods and soups -- also that nobody would want. (Note: Steve worked for the Department of Corrections and also suggests we should just be happy that the missing utensils aren't protruding from the sides of guests).
Kristi Fiscus says we should have a special price in the menu that includes silverware. Example: Fish-n-chips $12. $17 with used fork.
And finally, from Jenny Keaton, who suggests exchanging the Anchor's southern-inspired food for something more communal like some cultures where it's common to scoop the food up with a piece of flat bread off of a shared plate. I love that. Plus we'd save on bussers, food runners and dishwashing detergent.