I had 2 police officers sit at the bar for lunch and I knew right away I wanted to RAK them. I overheard them saying how they hadn’t eaten anything all day; they were starving. What better way to end a busy morning than to be treated for lunch. I explained our RAK program to them and gave them each a gift card to pass along. They were thankful and excited to keep the kindness going.
Dancing Man
Last night there was a nice couple sitting in the lounge chatting away, just enjoying each others company. I was cleaning a couple of the tables surrounding them and had seen the gentleman out of the corner of my eye squirming in his chair. I continued to clean the table and grabbed the vacuum to clean the floor of debris, and had once again saw him squirming but this time more clearly. He was using the back of the chair to scratch his back and his wife was picking on him for looking goofy. I couldn’t help myself and chuckled. She looked at me and said ‘This is how he dances too, I can’t take him anywhere.” I laughed with them both, finished cleaning the floor, and went to do my next task. I couldn’t help but smile as I thought about what a sweet couple they were so I decided to RAK them. When I had went back over to explain what it is we do as a company the woman stood up to hug and thank me. They were thrilled to be able to pass along the Kindness to others!
Brightened Up Someones Day
Today at Cj’s, We had a regular guest come in that we have not been in a few weeks named Frank. He came in alone and sat at the bar, when typically he would come in with his wife and sit at a table. After finishing his lunch (a cheddar burger an a 160z Goose Island IPA) he asked if Joey could come around the bar so he could ask him a question. Upon Joey going over he got choked up and said that his wife had passed away last Tuesday and it was his fist time out since she passed. He said CJ’s and Bedford T-Bones were two of their favorite places to go together and he was always so happy with our food and staff and also the generosity of other guests. He said their were so many times that his tab got paid for or someone bought a round of drinks so he wanted to pay it forward today and paid for another bar guests tab. Joey then paid it forward to Frank and gave him a $50 GC to come back and see all of us here at Cj’s as he knows how difficult it must be for him to come out alone but that our store is full of so many great memories. He got teary eyed and gave Joey a hug and thanked him. The gentlemen who’s tab got paid for then left $20 for the bar staff to continue to pay forward. It was a pay it forward kind of day here at Cj’s!!
Moms Helping Moms
I was out shopping at Hannafords with my one year old the other day. He was very rambunctious and goofy throughout the store and was waving at everybody. On our way out, while trying to juggle him, a box of diapers, and a couple bags, a very sweet woman who we had seen around the store offered to help us out to the car! It was so nice of her to go out of her way to help someone else that I took the Pay It Forward certificate from my car and brought it over to her! She was so thankful and explained she just did it out of the kindness of her heart!
Bicycle Boy
On Monday around 4pm a young man came in from the rain with his bicycle. He asked to be sat so he could get food. After being sat he explained to his server that he had a free appetizer coupon and he was just going to get that. Unfortunately, the coupon he had specified that you must purchase two entrees and he didn’t have the money to do so. The server and I decided to get him a soda and appetizer on the house since he traveled through the rain to come visit us CJ’s. He was so sweet and very thankful.
Mother Daughter Luncheon
I picked at random today. I saw a mother and daughter having lunch and they were both laughing and enjoying one of our Max’d Margaritas. I thought YUP that’s the one for me. I went to the table with a $25 Gift Card and a Pay it Forward. They said that they had never seen that at restaurant before and were very impressed. It made their day and gave them an excuse to come and visit us again.
Forever Guest
Elsie is a long time guest that I have waited on since back in my Bedford days. She comes at least 3 times a week and orders take out. She has recently been struggling and her son has been suffering through some medical issues. She came in yesterday to pick up her to go order and we had it covered. She was so shocked and sweet about it. She is one of our forever customers.
Bride to Be
We had a young lady come in today with her family and some friends to have lunch with us. They mentioned to their server Shawn that she is getting married tomorrow and the lunch was to gather everyone to go shopping for her final decorations. He saw that as a perfect opportunity to lighten her load and give her a Random Act of Kindness. We bought the group’s lunch and gave her a gift card to come back after their honeymoon. She was so excited she teared up and we could tell it helped ease a little stress during a busy time! So great to make an almost newlywed smile!
First Take Out of the Day
Today I decided to pick the first guest that ordered take out. My first take out was a lady named Kathy. She said her daughters come in fairly frequently and she decided to get take out. She was very surprised and grateful.
Chatting Away!
Was walking through the bar tonight and noticed a sweet couple chatting away. They looked like they were enjoying themselves as they sipped on their drinks. I wanted to make their day a bit more special and decided to RAK them. I surprised them with a $25 gift card for their next experience and chatted with them for a few moments. I kindly asked them to Pay It Forward with an additional certificate so they could make someone else’s day! They were shocked by the kindness and thrilled to be able to pass along the joy!