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- Denny's #1408
- Phoenix, Arizona
- 03 February 2001
- 11:15pm MST
- 12401 N. Tatum Blvd.
- (602) 996-2070
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- Attendees: P7A77
- Wait-person(s): Kate
- What we ate: P7A77 - Coffee
- I'm getting old. I had a long day, what with the parade in the morning and a play in the afternoon and a long dinner with margaritas with family... I was weighing driving halfway across town late at night against curling up in a soft, comfortable bed... and the bed almost won out. But once I got on the road (and a few refills of coffee in me) I perked right up.
- Back to the aforementioned family... they're great and all, but anyone who reads even a short bit of the feedback section of this site will realize that I'm frequently dealing with people asking me "Why not Waffle house?" "Why not IHOP?" "Why not Perkin's?" "Why not McDonald's?" "Why not Taco Bell?" I only imagine these very same people would be asking me, had I chosen IHOP, "Why not Denny's?" Some people just gotta be contrary. Well, okay, I'm one of them, but it's still annoying. On top of that, practically every relative or friend I ran into tried to be helpful by telling me about one specific Denny's or another, even after I kept telling them that I already knew where they all were. But for some reason my telling them that only got them to suggest I look in the phone book. This happened more than once, and with the same people. Ah, family. And people wonder why I don't visit them more often.
- WAY: No
- Free Stuff: Free Entree Pin
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- Denny's #6612
- Phoenix, Arizona
- 03 February 2001
- 11:50pm MST
- 3205 E. Bell Rd.
- (602) 788-1833
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- Attendees: P7A77
- Wait-person(s): Linda, Cathy (maybe)
- What we ate: nothing
- Every now and again you visit a Denny's with a manager who brings a certain positive energy to the place. The managers at these locations have a healthy sense of perspective, are always ready with a smile, and couldn't be more willing to provide a good time. This ain't one of 'em.
- When I arrived there were a few people in the lobby. Some were waiting to be seated; others to pay. I waited quietly and politely for them to be taken care of. When I was sure there was nothing more to be done, I approached Linda. I smiled and introduced myself. She looked confused and somewhat terrified. This reaction isn't entirely uncommon, so I pressed forward and asked her the store's unit number.
- That was a mistake. Immediately a woman working at the register said, rather sharply, that they couldn't tell me that. I thought she was just makin' funny, so I laughed and asked no, really, what is it? Can't tell me. Why not? It's private information. No it isn't, I say... most Denny's have it posted on the wall, and many even have it on the receipts. Nope, it's private corporate information. Okay, fine.
- I continued speaking with Linda. Well, I continued speaking /at/ her. She was just standing in paralyzed fear, not sure if she should talk to me or ask me to leave. Can't say as I blame her. I asked her if she knew who Weird Al was. She smiled nervously. I asked again. More nervous smiling, but a hint at recognition. Okay, good, we're making progress. Does she know if anyone works there who resembles him? Nervous smiling. Okay, fine. I made a vain request for free stuff and let her go.
- Back to the spiteful, vile witch of a manager. I asked again if she was serious about giving out the store number. Yes, she was, and thank you come again (with a terse sarcastic smirk). Okay, fine, but what if a customer has a complaint, how will they let corporate know which store they are? Well, then she can tell. Very well, my complaint is that you won't tell me the store number. She finally tells me the unit number is 3317. I say good, thank you, and ask her name. She says Cathy.
- I don't want to get into a whole rant about attitudes and self-fulfilling prophesies, but when the manager acts like this, it has an effect on employees, which then has an effect on customers, which then just gives the manager more justification to act like this. Break the cycle. It's unfortunate when stupid people enjoy wielding what little power they have.
- I called back to this place twice over the few days following. It turns out Cathy lied about the store number. No big surprise. I doubt that's even her real name. If anyone wants to become a part of her distorted little world, she was older, had awful teeth, and thin, fried, scraggly hair. And she was pure evil.
- WAY: No
- Free Stuff: nothing
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- Denny's #6309
- Phoenix, Arizona
- 04 February 2001
- 12:50am MST
- 8801 N. 7th St.
- (602) 997-2011
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- Attendees: P7A77
- Wait-person(s): Linda (manager)
- What we ate: nothing
- Maybe it was the margaritas from earlier in the evening, or maybe it was the several cups of coffee a couple Denny's previous, but I certainly left this Denny's lighter than I arrived, and that's including the mug that Linda gave me.
- WAY: No
- Free Stuff: Coffee Mug
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- Denny's #1974
- Phoenix, Arizona
- 04 February 2001
- 12:30am MST
- 1601 E. Camelback Rd.
- (602) 266-9868
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- Attendees: P7A77
- Wait-person(s): Debbie
- What we ate: nothing
- Pretty mellow in here. This place is just down the road from another Denny's. Maybe they built this one for overflow, or maybe as a mellow alternative. But don't worry, there was still the contingent from the brooding counterculture youth.
- WAY: No
- Free Stuff: Dessert Menu
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- Denny's #0893
- Phoenix, Arizona
- 04 February 2001
- 12:55am MST
- 5002 N. 7th St.
- (602) 279-7721
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- Attendees: P7A77
- Wait-person(s): Lisa (maybe)
- What we ate: P7A77 - Hashbrowns Covered & Smothered, Coffee, Water
- I've received a lot of emails about this place. They tell me it's called "The Gay Denny's" and that early morning hours provide drag shows and soap operas. I figured I had to make an appearance. I got there a little early (I figured things would start happening between 1:30 and 2am), so I settled into the counter and started a never ending cup of coffee.
- It was busy. Not wacky drag queen floor show busy, but busy nonetheless. Everyone was constantly moving. And the thing is, they seemed to know what they were doing. Customers were served quickly. People were in good spirits. It was a well-oiled machine. I doubt that certain other manager would get a crew to work like that. And my coffee was never empty.
- After about half an hour I decided to get some food. I wasn't very hungry because I had eaten a whole bunch of food earlier that day, so I just got hashbrowns. My waitress very effectively upsold me on Covered & Smothered. That crafty little lady. I say "my waitress" because even though the ticket said "Lisa", I heard them all calling someone else Lisa all night. I guess it's possible they were both named as such, but I don't recall my waitress ever turning her head when people called that name. Oh well.
- After a little over an hour of staring at the equipment behind the counter I decided it was time to leave. No major theatrics since I had been there. Lisa (?) told me that the fun really starts around 4am or so, but ain't no way I was hanging around that long. So to all of you who told me I must must must go to this Denny's... I went. I tried to be there at a time when I'd get some good photos, but it just wasn't to be. Oh, well. It still had a great vibe around the place, and definitely gets a recommendation.
- WAY: n/a (they got slammed right as I left, so I didn't ask)
- Free Stuff: n/a (see above)
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