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Today we had a couple visiting the area. Derry TBones was her Dad’s favorite place to dine. He had passed away and a bench was named in his honor for being a veteran. When they visit the area they like to drive by their old house for a trip down memory lane and their trip ended at Tbones. They had told their server they were visiting Hampstead so knowing that’s my hometown she told me about their day. We chatted about the changes to town and how different it is but yet the same and found out she grew up a mile up the road from me! When I shared why else I was stopping by to chat they were of course pleasantly surprised but also excited as they love the idea of RAKs and paying it forward. They were on their way to the nursing home for a visit to her Aunt and look forward to making someone else’s day before returning to their home in Connecticut. Perfect way to end their trip back home.

In the interest of gaining some new regulars. I wanted to extend a gift card to a family that had just moved into town. Moved from only a state away they are however from Colombia and Lebanon and wonderful people. I shared a little bit of infomation about our company’s care and concern for not only their employees, but also the community and they were very much in awe. I let them know they can also visit Copper Door and try them next time if they would like in the hopes of gaining some new excited regulars looking for a great place to be their “go to” drop in.

Tonight we had a party of 9 join us with a family that is so much of a regular their NYE resolution was to eat at home more and not spend as much at T-Bones. They are loved by all who work here, from Management to servers to kitchen. Each XMas they start a Burl paybacks plan and buy employees a drink who wish for one. Our kids are now friends from dining frequently at the same time! It was Steve Burl’s Bday (dad) and mechanic to half our staff. They came in with a couple other couples and their kids (6, 14, 17). The youngest sophia gets a little rambunctious sitting amongst the adults sometimes so to let them enjoy converation I took the little one at the end with me for a few minutes. She was bored of doing checkouts and asking what the charts were, she wanted to take care of guests so I thought it would be a great Random Act of Kindness moment. (yes I did one earlier but a great moment for a little one to learn the value of making someone’s day). There were a handful of tables dining in the lounge so I said look around and pick any table you want to do something nice for and we will go make them smile. She picked a group of 3 younger/older people (20’s) and we walked up and said our little Random Act of Kindness speech and that it was Sophie’s choice to ask your table to pay it forward. They were so excited and talked to Sophie for a few minutes during this time the table next to them recognized Sophie from her Dad’s shop on 102 and said what a great family they were and then started talking to Sophie as well! She was so popular now 🙂 Funny how she was doing something nice for someone else and another person recognized her because she had pulled into their gas station/shop and one of the young kids fixed her tire for her and she thought it was just so wonderful. They said the Burl Family is just so kind and fantastic. Very fitting!!

Christie let me know she was waiting on a guest that may need a little extra strength in her corner this week. A woman ordered a beer rather excitedly and later noted it was her last one for the week. She divulged she was going in for Chemo tomorrow and asked if we could do something nice. “Of course we can”!! I didn’t know how sensitive a subject was and try to be discreet around other guests when I RAK someone with a personal matter so when they were wrapping up I went over and said “I heard you may need a little extra strength in your corner this week”. With a big smile on her face she nodded rather excitedly and tipped her beer in agreement. I told her Christie shared it with me and that I wanted her to have something to look forward to when she was done with Chemo. So we issued her a $50 GC and said please come enjoy some Blue Moons and know we are in her corner. She thanked me and said “its about time this Cancer paid off, I’ll definitely come enjoy them when I can”. Her positive energy and strength was inspiring I hope she kicks Cancer’s ass!!!!

Kayla and Sam came to me about an experience with their tables. A gentlemen was in dining alone and saw two women celebrating a birthday. He had seen me go over during the meal to give one a GC as she had ordered a Chicken Platter and had actually wanted a Country Chicken and she was very pleased. He wanted to do something nice for the ladies and picked up their tab. So of course we wanted to do something nice for him and continue the pay it forward theme. We gave him a GC to come back and get a dinner on us which he was thankful but unmoved by the action. What he was actually happy about was that I asked him to continue his positive vibes after he left our store and give another person a RAK on us with a pay it forward GC. That he thought was “really cool!” and “awesome that our company has this movement”

This afternoon we had a little boy come into T-Bones after having a very unique Birthday.  He had just come from CHAD in Lebanon. For HIS birthday, he donated all of his birthday presents to the childrens hospital. This selfless act from a 9 year old young man inspired Catherine to invite me to get involved. Of course, how could we not show CJ  how one good deed deserves another. We picked up their tab and asked him to keep spreading the good and to select someone of his choosing to receive a Random Act of Kindness. CJ left us a little handwritten thank you and left smiling from ear to ear. We told him how proud he should be of such a wonderful thing to do and hope to see him again

I often find RAK’s that have meaning and are dear to our guests and extended TBones family. I tried to be more Random this week and continued with my Random theme with a very young couple that were seated in the lounge. I don’t believe they were old enough to drink but were dining together for quite some time. I wanted to impress on a young generation to do something completely random and encourage them to do the same. They were of course grateful and didn’t quite know what to say but left with a mix of shock and excitement so hopefully will take advantage of our kind guesture and pay it forward to keep the vibe going. -END RAK week but keep it going 🙂  

Last week, we knew a family that visits Derry regularly was preparing to lose their mother. They expected her to pass last week. When they were in tonight, Ed Williams, his wife, sister, brother in law and son were dining and regretted to inform us that his mother had held on another week and was lost to them yesterday. Sorry to hear the news I thought it would be a good opportunity to continue my goal to complete RAK week. I offered my condolences and said we would like to do something nice to share our support and took care of the food items on their check. I then asked the two (brother and sister ) that had lost their mother to share a RAK certificate in honor of their mother and do something nice in her name. Some hugs and tears later, one had passed a RAK certificate along on their way out to another very regular and close family Steve and Sandy Burl and children Sophia and Sam. They also passed along the the Random Acts of Kindness (see next post)  The Williams’ were very grateful and overwhelmed with the love and support they felt from all of us and made sure to come see myself and Andre on their way out.

After I made my RAK #4 of RAK week, I noticed one of our very very regular guests and good friends  (The Burl’s ) had a RAK certificate on their table tonight. Knowing they share everything about their experiences with me I knew I hadn’t heard about them being RAK’d. I had made an appearance at another table with a RAK and they immediately paid it forward in house with this family. One of our KM’s Dave Rocca made the Burl’s a special Bernaise Sauce for their steaks and when they heard he had made a special Meatloaf Dinner for another guest that was getting anxious, Steve Burl paid it forward twice and gave them their RAK certificate so they would be extra happy and patient knowing their meal was worth waiting for. I visited the table after their server had brought the surprise RAK over and checked on their created meal and without a doubt they were so very happy! It was Nice to see the RAK unfold a few times over stemming from a table that needed a little happiness in their day (see RAK #4)

A few months ago, a family that is  long time regular visitors of Derry, lost their middle son to suicide. One of our servers, Amber, dated their oldest son, Tommy for many many years so she was extremely close to the family as were nearly all our bartenders. The loss of Joey was tremendous to this family and spread deeply throughout our store. When they visited Christie could tell his Mom had been crying and asked if I could do something. We made it very casual as to not stir up what was was already weighing on her but I went over and said I wanted to make a kind guesture to make them smile and ask them to do something nice for someone completely random with the same idea. I let them know I was hoping to keep up RAK week moving forward and hope she will come in to tell me their story. I said keep it on you and save it for when you want to pay it forward. Maybe on a really hard day she will remember she can do something completely random just for the sake of it and it will bring her happiness. It can’t be easy finding ways to make you smile when you don’t want to