The End of an Era
Wednesday, 22nd October 2003DENVER, CO [NotS]
The recession seems to be taking its toll on every business in Duhmerica. And none has been hit harder than TGIFriday’s #1827 at 10293 East Iliff in Denver, Colorado.
Moments ago, this reporter was alerted to the drain of resources caused by repeat business, as well as a new policy being enacted in this establishment.
From this day forward, due to the loss of profits, customers will be expected to ‘order something–food or alcoholic beverages–something without free refills–once an hour,’ according to General Manager, Chad Walsh.
‘You come in here about every day and plug in [your laptop] using our power, and, in the end, have a tab of a couple of bucks,’ explained Walsh, in defence of the new policy.
A server here at TGIFriday’s, who wishes to remain unidentified, has a different outlook: ‘I love it when you guys come in and just have coffee and soda; it’s a lot easier than putting up with people ordering everything on the menu every few minutes.’
Otre servers share his perspective, though largely off the record. Even our unidentified server is aware of the dangers of misrepresenting his employer, suggesting, ‘When I’m off the clock, I can get away with saying whatever I like.’
A private accountant, who wishes to remain anonymous, has this to say on the matter: ‘Either they aren’t aware of their ability to write things off, or, maybe, hey are and already have, under some inappropriate expense. Either way, something’s wrong there.’
Whether this policy is national, or applies only to this reporter and his associates is not known; presumably, this affects all potential customers at TGIFriday’s, since the alternative would lead to a discrimination suit against a reportedly financially-crippled corporation.
In either case, it looks as though TGIFriday’s is becoming a cost-prohibitive location in which to write these articles and the occasional novel. On the bright side, the printing ost of the latter will drop fractionally, now that the ubiquitous ‘Catering by various servers at TGIFriday’s', in the indicia of the books, will no longer be draining the resources of the publisher.
UPDATE: 4th April 2002: This is interesting: Chad Walsh–the General Manager of TGIFriday’s #1827 at 10293 East Iliff here in Denver–seems to have been incorrect about a few points….
Granting that Walsh had merely dropped this new policy on us, and never suggested that we were no longer allowed in the restaurant at all, we returned–partly to ascertain whether the new policy applied to all customers, or just us.
Just us.
We talked to various servers, who told us that A) they didn’t care how long we sat there or how little we ordered, B) they’d never heard of this new policy and had seen no evidence of it being applied to anyone else, and C) Chad Walsh is, off the record, an idiot who should never have been placed in charge of anything resembling a restaurant.
To confirm that, we watched a number of other patrons sit at tables for well over an hour without ordering anything new; a couple of them even had laptops–although Walsh hadn’t really suggested that the presence of a laptop was the real issue.
However: I happened to talk to Mister Mumble–the self-described Director of Operations for TGIFriday’s–today. I call him Mister Mumble because he made absolutely no sense when he told me his name, and cut me off with the rest of what he may well have rehearsed before I could ask him to repeat it.
‘I believe Chad [Walsh] talked to you the other day about the stipulations placed on you, right?
‘He mentioned a couple of things,’ I told Mumble, ‘Although–’
‘I think what we’re going to have to do,’ he interrupted, ‘is go ahead and refuse service to you guys from now on.’
‘Okay,’ I said.
‘Why don’t you go ahead and get out of here,’ he suggested, ‘Don’t worry about your bill.’
‘Never do,’ I assured him.
I was tempted to tell him what his servers had told me; I could have turned the laptop to him [interestingly, I was updating NewsoftheStoopid.com when he bothered me in the first place] and shown him the various EMails we’ve recieved from now-former TGIFriday’s customers and a few employees–both former and current–regarding this new ‘policy’. Again: regardles what Director Mumble may have to say, the new rules seem to be imposed only upon us…to date…now that we’re not even allowed to go into the place anymore and observe everyone else getting away with what we, for some reason, aren’t allowed to do.
On the bright side, I got the site updated before I left; so now you can EMail us more conveniently to tell us what you think about this and other articles….
UPDATE: 22nd October 2003: I knew I was forgetting something important.
Potentially due to the existence of this article [based on the feedback it's generated from the Greater Denver Metro Area, it's a distinct possibility], TGIFriday’s #1827, at 10293 East Iliff, no longer exists. 10293 East Iliff is still there, but it’s available for lease.
It’s upsetting, of course, since I, and several hundred people I know, were regulars there between 1993 and 2002; but times–and managers–change. Pity.
Case closed, I guess.
–Gremlin