• The Nutcracker

    Posted on November 29th, 2006 by and currently 3 commenting.

    This weekend I was picking up lunch so my boyfriend wouldn’t miss one second of the ill-fated Clemson/Carolina game. I stopped by Thaicoon Ricefire and Sushi Bar – a little Thai restaurant near Furman. While I waited for my order, I chatted with the owner, who was in the midst of decorating for Christmas. (I’m not sure how big Christmas is in Thailand… but whatever.) Anyway, he explained that he collects nutcrackers, and every year he buys several nutcracker ornaments to augment his collection. But that’s not all. You see… any shift he works, he gives an ornament to a child. What do nutcrackers have to do with Thai food? NOTHING. But it’s just something small he’s doing to make his customers feel welcome and appreciated. On top of great food and a cool atmosphere, it’s a nice little holiday gesture… it made me smile… and you can bet the lucky recipients of his collectible ornaments will go out of their way to remember him too.

    Geez… are all my posts going to be this warm and fuzzy until after Christmas?

    It’s possible.

  • Staeven Frey

    There’s a cafe with huge windows that I worked at while in college. Every year the staff would cut out intricately meticulous snowflakes and put them on the windows as you came in.

    There was a pair of scissors and a bowl of prefolded snowflakes in a bowl, so customers could make their own snowflakes. Either way, people would come in, and say “Oh, that’s mine!” or “that one’s my favorite!” One of my favorite memories.

  • http://www.note-to-cmo.blogspot.com Stephen Denny

    Here’s a good example of (sorry if I’m ruining the holiday spirit) “unexpected reciprocity” — you give a gift that is not an ‘entitlement’ in order to receive something back, namely loyalty and more business.

    Promoting “free ornament for every child (while supplies last, one per household, void where prohibited)” would not have us feeling that holiday spirit now, would it?

    But the little surprise gets us all feeling great. This is some good work by your friend the Christmas-celebrating Thai Sushi Man.

  • http://pointoforder.squarespace.com/journal/ kamran

    Huzzah to the sushi man! Bobby is his name and I have known him for 7-8 years (even at his pre sushi job). He does a great job of keeping Christmas all year long, so much so that I try to swing by there any chance I get, for lunch at Bobby’s is as friendly as lunch at home.
    keep up the warm and fuzzy, Jen, we need it out here in the cold cyber world.