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- Denny's #7249
- Tucson, Arizona
- 21 June 1999
- 6:00am MST
- 1510 W. Valencia
- (520) 295-1955
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- Attendees: P7A77
- Wait-person(s): Mary (trainer)
- What we ate: P7A77 - Grand Slam (sunny side up), Hashbrowns, Coffee, Orange Juice, Water
- I set my alarm for 4:00am the night before. I was excited, and had trouble getting to sleep. When the alarm started going off, I cursed a bit to myself that it sure didn't feel like it was 4 in the morning. It felt like much earlier. After a bit of investigating (and, unfortunately, waking up), I discovered that it was, in fact, 3 in the morning, and that I had inadvertently set my clock's time ahead an hour. Waking up at 3 in the morning is an evil, nasty thing. I very rarely wake up that early. It's more common that I'm going to sleep at that time.
- As I was leaving, I realized that Amie had my camera, and since she was away on business there wasn't much of a chance of me being able to get it from her. I went to Safeway to get a disposable camera, but they were closed. There wasn't enough time to scout out a 24-hour grocery, and I was staring to worry. Thankfully, 7-11 came to the rescue.
- By now you're probably wondering a few things. Why was I waking up so early? Why was I pressed for time? Why are you wasting your time reading these ridiculous pages? I can't answer that one, but as to the first two, I was going to a brand spanking new Denny's! It was scheduled to open at 6:00 that morning, and I was determined to be the very first customer. The reason I knew of its opening was that one of the trainers kindly sent me an email a few days previous informing me of it. And, to top it all off, it was a Denny's Classic Diner. I had never been to one before, and I can't think of a better way to have my first visit.
- I arrived at about 5:20. I wandered around, admiring the sunrise and taking photographs. I took note of the date and pondered why a restaurant famous for being open all night would choose to start business on the longest day of the year. I guess they thought they needed some practice with their night shift before the winter equinox rolled around.
- Some of my first impressions were that it was very cool looking, but I wondered if it would still feel like "Denny's". I theorized that it would probably be the cleanest Denny's I'd ever visited, but knew not to get my hopes up too much on that. I saw that they had outdoor seating, but the cramped parking lot, compared with the lack of shade and proximity to the main road, made me wonder how much it would get used. It would probably be fun for nighttime dining, but I suspect they don't allow people out there at night for security issues.
- I noted the new logo, which I like better than their previous new logo, but still not as much as the two versions of the logo that came before it. As an aside on that, one of the Denny's in my town that I previously visited had one of the really old trippy 60's logos on their road sign, but recently replaced it with this new one. A pity.
- After a while of wandering around and sitting in my car, I was beginning to question the sanity of being there so early, but at around 5:40am, while I was sitting in my car listening to the news, some guy just walked up and sat down at the bench right by the front door! A few minutes after that (so as not to seem pushy), I got out of my car and sat down on the other bench, and started chatting with him. Our conversation was painfully dull and strained, but when all was said and done, he let me go into the restaurant first when it opened.
- I sat at the counter by the jukebox. I put in my dollar and picked Greased Lightning, Get Back, and Joy to the World (all appropriate in their own ways), but some bizarre version of YMCA started playing, and very loudly. Don't get me wrong, I like the Village People, but this was an awful remix and the whole staff was looking at me and no doubt wondering why I would subject them to it. Finally someone came over and found the volume control.
- I figured an appropriate first meal would be the Grand Slam with all the side items that they like to put around it in the photos. While waiting for my order I looked over the new menu. A few new items, including "Simple Simon's Sampler", the "Lumberjack", and the "Fresh Fruit & Yogurt Slam". The first two are passable, but someone in marketing really needs to work on that last one. Regarding the previously mentioned cleanliness issue, I saw that the floor was a little dirty and even had some stains. I think that's the way they come from the factory. I didn't check for creamer stains on the paintings or duct tape on the booths, but I think I should have.
- My order arrived quickly (since they couldn't use the excuse that they were backed up), and it was, dare I say, the best Grand Slam I've ever had. Everyone was attentive, but not too attentive. The best part of all was when the waitress asked if I had a dollar bill on me. She said that if I did, that would be all I'd have to pay, and that they would frame it as their first dollar earned. This had nothing to do with the Project, of course, it was just because I was the first customer. I said, sure, I'd be tickled as punch, and other mixed metaphors. I figured I should write some encouraging words on the dollar, but I couldn't think of anything, so I wrote something utterly lame like "I'm honored" and signed it. I haven't been back to see where (or if) they framed it, or to give them a copy of the photo I took with them. And even tho' (and because of) I got the meal basically for free, I still left a sizeable tip. Let that be a lesson to all of you.
- So what are my thoughts on Denny's Diner? Eh. It's Denny's.
- WAY: no (but give them time)
- Free Stuff: the meal
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