Slainte!
Like many, I worked myself through college doing a variety of jobs, including “waiting tables.” Today, I read that one of my former employers would cease to exist as I once knew it (http://www.dallasnews.com/sharedcontent/dws/dn/latestnews/stories/073008dnmetbennigans.140b9e44.html). That’s right, Bennigans, you’re favorite Irish themed casual dining experience locked its doors.
When I first read the story, I felt a little sentimental. I still have several vivid memories from the Bennigans where I worked, store #420, a perfect number for this particular store. Oh the stories I could tell. I ran across a letter I wrote to Metromedia, Inc., almost five years ago to the day, July 31, 2003. Reading through the letter, I feel like a prophet, or perhaps just Mr. Obvious.
In the letter, I outlined for the corporate office tales of outrageous food costs, outrageous liquor costs, inept and sometime absent management, illicit activities among many of the staff members and reminder of the store’s nefarious past. In the letter, I did not mention the story of the female hostess who tried to seduce five male servers, including myself, during one shift. The corporate office ignored my letter and it hardly shocked me to see the news today that Bennigans would cease to exist. At the same time, I can’t help but shed a small tear, if for nothing else the death of the Turkey O’Toole. So tonight my brothers and sisters, have yourself a pint of Guiness, raise it to the roof and shout out the old Gaelic phrase, “Slainte,” in memory of Bennigans.
