To: Bill
Bishop 28 July, 2012
%
Willard Bishop LLC
840
S. Northwest Hwy
Barrington,
IL 60010
Re: Adventures
in Dining and Shopping at Mariano's Palatine store
Dear
Bill,
I
(finally) found an excuse to get my father over to Mariano's Palatine
store yesterday (27 June, 2012). He was hungry, we were about out of
groceries, and all the planets seem aligned.
We
started at the lunch counter, and each of us went for one of the
$6.00 meals plus two sides. While waiting in line, I tell dad,
“Grandpa Harry (dad's dad, who was a butcher) would have liked
working here!” Dad replies, “Yes, but he would have spent too
much time flirting with all the beautiful women.” And NOW, after
being totally embarrassed by my father's overt flirtatious habits
(CONSTANTLY flirting with women I should be dating) which I have been
aware of for almost forty years, I discover something new about my
Grandfather Harry, and observe (not for the first time) that sons
either embrace or reject their father's idiocyncricies (never total
rejection; never total acceptance, either).
Dad
selected the pulled pork, with baked beans and one of the pasta
salads; I selected the teriyaki tuna, the same pasta salad dad
ordered, and a hot veggie combo – brocolli and cauliflower. Dad
pays the cashier $12 plus tax. He whispers (“This place is gonna
put a lot of restuarants out of business.”). I ask what he's like
to drink. He wants a soft drink, hands me two dollars, and asks if
that will be enough. “Better make it $3.00,” says I. Get him a
ginger ale (one of his personal favorites) and a very tall can of
Green Arizona Tea for me. I return with $1.27 in change. At our
favorite Italian joint, Sergio's in Barrington, we'd have spent
$15.00, and the pulled pork portions would have been comparable
(Mariano's would probably win out, but not by very much; I would have
been the loser – can't get teriyaki tuna at Sergio's). All of a
sudden, the Ganzer's have a conundrum of loyalties. Hopefully, it
will resolve itself.
Dad
also inotes that it is not too hot in the store. This is a matter of
GREAT importance to him. He is constantly admonishing the
Jewel Store employees that they need to keep the temperature lower.
After
lunch, we shop, picking up $76.99 in groceries (which includes
laundry detergent, laundry softener, and paper towels) on twenty-six
items. We have enough meat / poultry for me to fix at least 10 main
courses for two bachelors, saving money all the way over that store
in Barrington whose only redeeming feature is its convenience, at
about one and a half miles from home.
Hell,
I haven't even told you how incredibly efficient and fast they were
in processing us through the check out line and taking dad's debit
card (he ALWAYS gets flustered when he has to use it in a new place).
Such nice, friendly people work for Mariano's. Just how in the
world (or where) does one located and train such a wonderful staff?
Please
feel free to share this with anyone from Mariano's (or where ever)
who might find it useful or interesting. They just picked up two
consumers for life and really deserve to know at least some of the
things they are doing REALLY well. Other store chains might
also profit from our experiences. Accept my apology for suggesting
to tell you how to do your business.
With
Warm and Fond Regards,
Mark
Raymond Ganzer
