Ryan P.
Yelp
I have not been here in years. Decided I would eat dinner here. Checked the hours. And Yelp states that they are open until 10pm. So, I go inside and place my order at 9:33pm. The girl taking my order is nice enough. I ask if there is a way I can get half French fries and half onion rings with my burger? I was however told, no. I think that's weird. As, damn near every burger place at this point will accommodate this. However? As I come back inside from retrieving a cup to get some ice for my personal lunch cooler? (I asked if it was OK before I did it.) The young lady who took my order says she was just informed that they are closing in five minutes.... It's 9:40pm.
I ask the man behind the soda machine, "You're closing in five minutes?" Yes. "You're closing at 9:45pm?" Yes. "You close... At a quarter to ten?" Yes. "I literally just checked the bourse before I walked in here. It said you close at 10pm." No.
I am so god damned sick of all of these fu**ing businesses closing early. And constantly just deciding on a whim, that they are going to close early tonight. I watched this exact thing happen at the Steak n Shake in Compton. Kept closing early. Or even at completely random times. Never any thought for the customers time. I have seen this become an all too common trend.
I have worked my entire adult life. Plenty of that time was spent working in restaurants. I have never worked in any establishment, food, retail, or other, that closes at a quarter, anything.
I am currently in a bind when it comes to my living situation. So, eating? Is pretty much something I hold dear. As a time where I can just sit there. At a table. Like a normal person. And relax. Enjoy my food. And just watch my iPad for a bit. I don't want my food in a bag. I don't get food to go. And while, they offered to let me eat on the patio? That was not an option for me. As, I already explained. I just want to be able to relax and feel normal for a bit.
I was extremely annoyed that I was just told I had to leave right after I ordered. And while I told the girl I wasn't upset? I wasn't. But I was very annoyed. I told them if I had to get it to go then just give me a refund. Which? They did. Which honestly kind of surprised me. And also added to me beginning to get really upset. Which, I would have gotten anyway as I started to realize yet another business is just closing randomly again. And I only got more upset as I started putting all of my stuff back into my car. And had to jump it again. (I need a new battery. I know this. But, the fact I decided to turn my car off for nothing? Also contributed to the frustration building up.)
As stated, I've worked in restaurants. And when we say we are open until a certain time? That means we take orders up until that time. NOT! I will say that again, NOT, that we get to be closed and out of the building by that time. If we had a customer walk in and want food at two minutes until we closed? You know what? I get it! It sucks ass! And we most certainly would politely suggest they get it to go. Or, let them know like, "We are all just about to be done." But, in a professional way of course. But? If they decided they wanted to stay and eat? Oh well! Sucks for us I guess! I am just tired of everyone these days acting as if expecting someone to do the bare minimum? And simply work the posted hours that you agreed to work when they hired you? Is some insane overreach? Or an unattainable and audacious expectation. And that my time, the customers time? Mattered as much as the peoples who are being paid to be there. Again? This is me being frustrated with a broader trend. And not all on Tomboys.
If you want to close the dining room at 9:45pm? So be it. But you need to post that somewhere. And maybe I'm a complete asshole? And you really, genuinely do close at 9:45pm? I e never even heard of such a thing in 46 years on this planet. But? Let's just say that's the case? Then, change your hours! Everywhere! Yelp! Google. Apple. Your storefront. Etc! And if you close the dining area at a certain time? STICK TO IT. As, I just know that if you post that dine in closes at 9:45? The second the first person orders at 9:40? They will be told it's take out only. And so the cycle continues.....
Maybe I'll try Tomboys again in another few years? If they're still around? Or? If anything is for that matter? At this rate? Who TF knows? I wish that was me trying to be funny. I really do....