for FReeper RegisteredPosted on 12/10/2002 7:49:27 PM PST by Registered
No more Grand Slams for FReeper Registered
| After 22 years, restaurant closes its doors Denny's Restaurant, a virtual institution among late-night diners, abruptly closed its doors for good Monday afternoon, citing lagging business. The Norton shores restaurant, which opened in 1980, closed at 3 pm Monday. The restaurant was hurt financially by safety and security concerns that forced the corporation to stop making it a 24-hour eatery-a "trademark" of Denny's restaurants, a corporate spokeswoman said. Customers (Like Me) and workers were not given advance warning the restaurant would be closing, said Melanie Mathews of Muskegon, a (darn good) server at the restaurant. Employees, some of whom worked at the restaurant for more than 20 years, were told the restaurant was closing during a meeting Monday afternoon, she said. "It was a big blow" (tell me about it), Mathews said, "There's a lot of people out of a job and a lot of families and children that will be affected by this...there were women in there sitting and crying"(not me, I'm a guy) The 48 employees were offered a two-week severance package and the opportunity to transfer to other Denny's restaurants, the closes being in Holland and on Plainfield Avenue in Grand Rapids, said Debbie Atkins, spokeswoman for Denny's, which is based in Spartanburg, S.C. The Norton Shores restaurant originally was open 24 hours. But several years ago, corporate officials (that don't understand Michigan "culture") decided to start closing at 3 am every day but Sunday, when it closed at 1:45am, Atkins said. "Unfortunately that hurt the business-the fact that we couldn't be open 24 hours," Atkins said,"Security is a top priority for us-ensuring the safety and security of our customers and employees. And we didn't believe we could do that at that location in the early morning hours" The restaruant was the site of a a couple of melees over the years. In 1994, police said a "near riot" and "free for all" brawl in the restaurant at 3:11am involved more than 50 people-practically all the patrons at the time (the Michigan "culture" thing). And in the 1999, a fight that involved 15 to 20 people caused $4,000 in damage at 3:32am . During that fray, patrons left without paying while others went into the cooking area and grabbed food (to eat and watch the action of course). Atkins said, Denny's now will be looking to sub-lease the property on which the corporation holds a long-term lease. Mathews said she was disappointed that the corporation chose to close the restaurant so close to Christmas. "It seems like they could have held on at least until after the holidays", she said, (and now for the Willie Green wind-up statement...) "To Denny's, you're no more than a bottom line number, and that's how we felt yesterday." Atkins said corporation officials "regret" the decision to close...there's never a good time for this," (duh) Atkins said. For any additional questions, call Denny's Customer Service Team at 1-800-733-6697.
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Here in NYC, you have to practically knock the guys in the bodegas and Korean delis in the head, before they'll give you a paper bag big enough to cover the bottle (otherwise, you get a summons and a fine from the cops). I think they want to get customers into trouble.
Ayup. One time, I watched a teenager (couldn't have been 16) sit down in the booth across from mine. He was sweating, shaking, and generally nervous, his pupils were dilated, and he kept to himself. As I watched him during the next few minutes, I noticed that there was a pair of panty hose shoved into his jeans pocket, half hanging out. After a few minutes passed, I saw why he was so nervous - when he stood up and hurriedly walked out, a revolver was clearly visible tucked into his waistband under his jacket.
To this day, I still think he was going to rob the place but lost his nerve at the last minute.
That's a good question. Millie (the cook at the local WH) does the same thing - the cook is apparently either deaf or stupid.
There are at least 2 Denny's within a 4 mile radius of the house. IHOP is just down the road - and just up the road.
Oh, probably at least 6 casinos, with very good restaurants, within a 15 - 20 minute drive
Just thought I'd add a bit of clarity to what WG said.
I also have to tell you that my 8 yr old loves Denny's, but I think his love is more for the claw machine than for the food.
It's now 48 F. Forcast of 60 - something tomorrow.
LVM
As they progressed eating on the public dole with each advancement in public office , and then, finally after eight years of free meals at the White House, they were caught stealing the silverware when they left...... by Registered.
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