Unnecessary queries are hurled at waiters- something that they could do well without. Now, the tricky part is- what do you do about it? While most of us would ‘smile and nod, smile and nod’, a restaurant in Colorado didn’t believe in it. This restaurant had started charging its patrons extra for asking what they deemed as stupid questions. And this brings out the essence of human character. Rather than get offended and cancel the restaurant, this place slowly became a favorite.
Your Favorite Diner- Which Charges You For Your Stupidity
As reported by TODAY, a 24-hour diner in Colorado, named Tom’s Diner, has been in business for close to 2 decades and enjoys stellar popularity. In fact, most locals like it more for the tongue-in-cheek humor the place shows. Hunter Landry, the General Manager, has explained this conundrum. He states, “It’s meant to be playful. It’s good to keep things light in today’s world.” Honestly- after what has been the case over the last couple of years, we could all do with a laugh.
A user posted a receipt of their meal at this diner on Reddit. And this turned viral, as the receipt had a 38-cent charge for “1 stupid question”. Most Reddit users were quite supportive of this shaming technique. But this begs the question- would they have supported it if it was aimed at them? Nevertheless, this didn’t stop one user from commenting,
“If I got paid to listen to people’s stupid questions I’d probably be a billionaire.” While another user quipped, “What’s an example of a stupid question?”
With the post about this diner being viral, most questioned the veracity. But the General Manager himself reported that the charge was definitely true. Yet, and this is something some people missed out on, this was all in good fun. When the menu for the restaurant was first printed in 1999, this charge was listed there. One can even see it listed on the menu just below ‘sides’. While the price was originally 48 cents, prices have gone down just a tiny bit. After all, if this was good fun, they couldn’t just rob their customers. Even though they were asking a stupid question. Right? Right?
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What’s Next For This Diner- Merchandise With Playful Banter?
Landry, the nephew of the original owner, has stated that the staff usually don’t charge those tables that genuinely ask questions. Rather, these charges are kept for the rambunctious lot. “When we have a good fun table that engages with us or when they ask about the charge, it’s always fun to add it on.” And this has sparked off a challenge. Most of the regulars of this diner try to bring out the dumbest questions possible- simply to get the charge.
Landry states, “The majority of people really get where we’re coming from and understand it’s meant to be playful. Over the years, maybe a few people have been perturbed but the response is generally positive.” One of the favorite ‘dumb’ questions the patrons ask is- “Does the ice have any water in it?” In fact, this is a diner favorite. Hilariously, most patrons get upset when they aren’t charged extra. A user on Reddit stated, “So, they’d ask and a server would add it. The ultimate stupid question? ‘Why didn’t you charge me more money?’” Genius. Just think about it.
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So, Who Are You Taking Here? Maybe A First Date?
The diner doesn’t just stop at one gag to get their patrons. Under ‘Healthy Options’ the joint has items such as ‘Skip Your Next Meal’.
Landry has stated, “We’re actually considering adding even more items, like ‘Don’t Take Yourself So Seriously’ and ‘Love Each Other’.”
As for visions of the future, Landry wants to keep the brand growing as far as it can. “It’s all about not taking yourself too seriously. We’re not here for a long time, so let’s enjoy ourselves and try to make the most of this life.”
Say what you will, the diner earns its bucks and its popularity. With most restaurants trying to cater to every whim of their customer, this is a fresh breath. After all, this place could not be in business- under any circumstances- if its patrons didn’t have a similar sense of humor. At the end of the day, it is all about the smiles that you bring- and not the money you make.
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