Betty G.
Yelp
The food was great. As always.
This was the first place in Austin that my late brother, Larry, ever took me on my first visit when he moved out here. It was back in the mid-1980s and we went to the drive-thru Thundercloud Subs that used to be where the Alamo Drafthouse South is located now.
Thundercloud subs has always been a favorite of mine because of that wonderful memory and because they've always taste great. Today was no different. The California Club is wonderful. Turkey, bacon & avocado. What's not to like?
This location, however, leaves a lot to be desired.
No organization. It's kind of grimy. The guys behind the counter had mediocre customer skills - but I suspect it's because there's no organization and they're reaching and talking over each other. The guy who called me over looked super-bothered. I didn't get asked which type of bread I wanted. When I said, "I want one large and one small California Club and a bag of chips," he held up one hand and said, "Okay, hold up. Let me make those two first."
I guess the order of chips was too much information. After I got handed the sandwiches and another guy came over from the left side of the counter to grab my card, the guy in front of me asked me to move out of the way so he could get another customer. I hadn't gotten my card back.
Uh, yea, okay.
Nothing was really wrong - just nothing really right.
With gentrification breathing down their necks, I thought I'd offer support and just a bit of advice rather than a momentarily agitated review:
* Streamline the service: Have them start at the left (where the cash register is) so they can order and pay, then have them move right. One person gets their bread all figured out, then passes it off. And so on. Yea, it's what everybody else does, but there's a reason for that.
* Spruce the place up a bit. Sandwich shop - you can't be raking in the money, but there's plenty of ways to raise money. Have a $5 raffle for a $50 gift card or a month's supply of sandwiches (minimum sale of 100 required to have the giveaway) - you'll sell out left and right. Generate publicity by having a contest --- Invent a Sandwich & Name It for an Austin legend/celebrity, etc. Offer catering at every new business that props up. Offer delivery to the fancy, shmancy places opening up around you. You can limit it to 78741.
* Get a Thunder Truck
* Have Twitter contests - Be the 10,000th follower and get a free meal. Be the 10,100 and get a free meal. Be the 10,200.....
This is seriously not meant badly. It was just a bit sad to me that Thundercloud - Austin's very own - wasn't a great customer experience. And, I'll tell you what - customer service may not be what makes or breaks a business, but it is most definitely one of the first cracks.
Good luck and I'll be back.
The food was great. As always.