The time- 2:13 on a Saturday afternoon. I walk in to a house that is full in the front area. There's a wait four people deep. The guest demographic was broad. One lady sat alone, reading the NY Times. A father and son were picking up lunch to go after the kid's game. A daughter, in her 40's was treating her mother to lunch. Black folk, white folk, asian folk. Everybody loves this place, it seems.
I moved up in line, noticing a magnet on the side of the soda cooler. It read: 'unattended children will be given espresso and a free kitten.' That made my week!
Everybody was working hard and if you looked close you could tell they had been at it for awhile.And then it happened: I met the Matron...
'Hmmm,' my eyes were bouncing back and forth from the chili special to the reuben, 'how do you like your reuben?'
'It's delicious. I'll tell you it's good now and you tell me it's good later,' was the witty retort that kept my chuckle going from the kitten magnet.
'Well don't threaten me with a good reuben. I'll take it. What kinda fries do you have?'
'Crinkle cut. We like them.'
'Me too. Sold. I have to stop in Party Mart, could I grab the soda when I come back?'
'Sure, you could also grab one out of the cooler if you like.'
'Actually, I prefer the fountain but thanks for the offer!'
I thought about the genuine hospitality (you know it when it comes from the heart, don't you?) while grabbing the onions and payed particular attention to the matron's style when I came back. She directed traffic from her spot behind the register. It seems everyone can do everything in this place. She always carried a motherly air about her and you could tell her people loved her and would go to the ends of the earth for her. Nice.
Then I found that indicator of business that I was looking for: I went to get my soda from the fountain and it was out of ice. Like just ran out. It was one of the top loading models where you have to add the ice by hand. I'm guessing 5 gallon capacity. That's a lot of sodas and I wouldn't be surprised to find out that they have to fill it multiple times during the day.
On my way to work I was just gonna eat half the sandwich and finish the rest upon arrival. I couldn't help myself, though, and ate the whole thing en route. It's not rocket science, nor should it be. Just good, honest food from good, honest people.
And yes ma'am, it was delicious!
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