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Allen Park, Michigan

• "Go there after 4:00 AM on a Friday or Saturday. That's when everyone from City Club arrives. I hate going there because I don't like most of the people that go there after the bar, but I'll go if I have to. The service is really slow on the weekends and there is barley any room inside, but I have been told by some friends of mine that a cool waitress works there, but I don't think she works on the weekends." - written prior to September, 1999
  - Jennifer

Ann Arbor, Michigan

• "We have a really nifty Denny's that we frequent all the time on Washtenaw. It is a beloved hangout for both Eastern Michigan University and the University of Michigan. It's located in Ann Arbor, Michigan-we'll send the address along later. It used to be really nifty, hanging both the EMU flag and the UofM flag inside, but now, they added all of this bright fluorescent stuff in an attempt to widen their customer base. We just wear sunglasses inside now. ;)" - written prior to September, 1999
  - The Ann Arbor Denny's Gang

• "I used to work at the Denny's in Ann Arbor, Michigan (before the Baskin Robbins deal). I must say, working there was all right if it just weren't for the stupid customers (and don't take offense, I'm one of them now myself). Some people just don't believe that waiters/waitresses are actual people. The staff was okay--well, except the woman who kept trying to convert people to Christianity and steal tips and the same time and those members of the staff who were just terminally stupid. Other than that, it was an okay job. Oh, who am I kidding. If you're considering a career with Denny's, DON'T." - written prior to September, 1999
  - Emily

• "I have a large group of friends that gets together at the Ann Arbor, MI (HOME OF THE MICHIGAN WOLVERINES!!!) Denny's once in a while... and, well, we hold the record for getting kicked out of there. I think the old manager lady (who is like 100 and always in an ice cream tie) cringes when she sees us-- but the funny part is, they always let us back in.
  I'm feeling your frustration from when they remodeled, we too were turned away due to "remodeling". Some good things that came from it: they now have a Baskin Robins inside there(!) boasting *almost* 31 flavors. Some bad things: they no longer have a party room! :( You should definately try to visit it again on Hash Bash day..." - written prior to September, 1999
  - Barbara Hunt

• April 7, 2000 - "6 Years Of Denny's Highlights (protecting the names of the innocent, but not the employees)
  
  Ok, you've already called our home restaurant the Satan of all Denny's (Ann Arbor #864). And honestly, I can't argue with you. But I at least have some good stories for you.
  Back when Denny's was Denny's before it became Bob Evans (otherwise known as pre-remodel, when it still had the green-white-and-orange bathroom tile on the walls and all the seats in the house were green) the Campers (as we are or were known) were a fairly large and obnoxious group of people who lived at Denny's. We defined the rotating table theory (kept a table open for a week once), and set the record for squatting with 72 hours straight (one guy had bought a new hardcover trilogy, stayed and read the whole thing). Most of the "Campers" have worked at Denny's for some period of time (that store or another in Michigan) - and for those who haven't - *some* of us spent so much time there that when we got kicked out of the house we got to use Denny's as a mailing address so we could get a job...... (but because I like him I won't use his name)
  
  "Back when Denny's was Denny's before it became Bob Evans"
  
  STAFF (Just remember... complaining about the service at Denny's is like telling a hooker you feel unloved)
  
  Puckaway
  Paul Puckaway was a store manager at 864/Ann Arbor. He looks like Tom Skerrit on crack. No one could stand him - he was pure @$$hole through and through. The Campers got fed up with being thrown out of an empty restaurant time and time again (2 hour time limit, don't you know) and finally, one day, when Puckaway said "You all have to leave", someone looked up and said "NO." He never asked again, and was even so kind as to transfer to another store. What devotion.
  
  At whatever store Puckaway ended up at last year, he subbed at Ann Arbor for 2 or 3 days. Right after he left, a most interesting story was told (confirmed true by District Manager). Seems Mr. P was up to his old tricks, screaming at his employees at the top of his lungs in view of the whole restaurant one day (1999), when the old biddy he was railing fell over dead in front of him from a heart attack. Perserverance pays.
  
  Brenda & Teria (Teria could be spelled wrong, don't expect me to look it up) In the grand Denny's tradition - two of the worst waitrons to ever grace the store - and they never got fired. Ahh yes. Brenda and her daughter, Teria. Brenda was a wonderfully spiritual woman who hummed hymns while she was working (puke). Nice religion - keep it to yourself. Her daughter Teria may have fallen far from the spiritual tree, but really made up her own class where personality was concerned.
  
  Two campers were sitting at a booth near the register. A week or so after halloween, and late at night, they were two of the only people in the restaurant. Brenda, humming her odes to Christ as she passed out the coffee, spied R.'s artwork and exclaimed: "Son, I can see the Devil in your work!" R., for halloween, had a dentist make him actual caps for his canines that were ~1 1/2" long (and looked soooo pretty). So after Brenda cries wolf about the artwork, T. says to R.: "Smile pretty for the nice lady, R." Brenda ran and didn't come back for the rest of the night.
  
  In 1997, on the North Campus area of Ann Arbor, a young man was shot and killed by a University of Michigan Police Officer in the parking lot of his apartment complex. He had stabbed his live-in S.O. over 30 times with a kitchen knife, continuing to stab her long after she had died. The UM officer on the scene fired a warning shot, and when the man did not stop stabbing the woman, fatally shot him. As printed in the Ann Arbor News the next day, the man was Brenda's son. Teria would later appear on Montel Williams to defend her brother, claiming (as she did in the Ann Arbor News) that it was his girlfriends fault for provoking him.
  
  Dorothy
  Once again, completely incompetent, stupid to a fault, and never got canned. Dorothy was one of the golden set to hostess at Denny's. She worked late day shift (Noon to 6... not quite day... not quite swing) and set tables up with open sores on her hands. She routinely stole tips and entered orders wrong. She also almost died the night she kept returning trays of glasses to a certain dishwasher - but only after turning them all over to illustrate her point that they were all dirty. Thank goodness she finally quit.
  
  Smilin' Jack
  This was a rare one. He wasn't one of the worst waiters, just one of the weirdest. He seemed fine at the start......... "Smilin' Jack" (no one even remembers his real name - matter of fact, he changed his nametag to Jack after a couple weeks) constantly wore a pasty little smile on his face, no matter what he was doing or who was talking/yelling/throwing things. He also couldn't figure out how to carry a glass (full of your beverage) without sticking a thumb or finger into it. S.J. started taking his breaks out behind the restaurant in the woods with a book. These breaks started getting a little longer, too. One day, on a 3 floor, with only 2 or 3 tables in the restaurant (S.J. was in non) - he finally lost it. Table 101 was actually a rather pleasant young couple who hadn't complained or been even the least bit rude. S.J. got their order out of the window, carried it over on a tray (still smiling), slammed the tray down on the table, screamed "I just can't take the people in this town anymore!" and stormed out of the restaurant, never to be employed there again.
  
  Smilin' Jack has since been spotted on the Eastern Michigan University campus. He was still smiling.
  
  Beverly
  The only waitress to ever score 2 pennies in an upside down (full) waterglass for a tip. The only waitress to ever have her whole section (7 tables) get up and walk out at one time. And to this day, she probably *still* wonders why she never made any money.
  
  Mark S.
  A waiter worthy of Ed DeBevic's. One of the crustiest to ever grace the floor at Ann Arbor.
  
  Becky
  Not one of the best managers the store has ever had, but better once we broke her in and got her to throw away the rule book. As usual, the bar crowd gets a little unruly on Thu-Fri-Sat nights. One group of 3 was determined to be seated before anyone else waiting in line, and when Becky took their name and table preference, the female customer picked up the notepad, ripped the top sheet off and threw the pad at Becky while yelling at her. Becky walked around the counter and asked the group of 3 to leave. The female customer pushed her, knocking her into the host stand. Becky decked her. At least she had some style.
  
  Rob
  Actually, this story is fairly recent. (and, might I add, he has a lot of people pissed at him because he called off tonight). In the midst of a bar rush, with about 20 people waiting to be seated, a table opened up in smoking - all the way in the back corner. A rather enterprising group of 3 (drunk) decided to seat themselves ahead other people. Rob saw it, grabbed the host stand (which is on wheels), wheeled it back to the table and asked the three "Would you like smoking or non?"
  
  Oh, how we hate them....... Customers
  
  So one night, a group of guys (all friends, all gay, all black) were sitting at a table. In the back, 2 tables away, sat 5 Deja Vu dancers who had just gotten off work. In the front, 2 tables away, sat two guys who were going to prove why the human race is doomed (appeared to be two mexican gang members). The two idiots start insulting the group of friends. One of the dancers makes a comment about the idiots' ancestry. The idiots start making comments about the dancers. The idiots and dancers really start trading some insults across the restaurant. One dancer, about 5'1", sandy blond, raspy voice, fingernails that could perforate sheet metal, gets up, walks across the restaurant, reads idiot#1 the riot act while punctuating with one of those fingernails. The group of friends splits - one gets up to help her, one gets up to get coffee, one gets up to pee and sneak out the back to follow the idiots when they leave. The idiot and dancer break it up, but the 6'5" 280lb gay black man (who went to get the coffee) keeps insulting the 5'5" gang member, yelling at him and threatening him with a full pot of coffee from behind the register and over the head of the 5'3" female manager (who looked like she was gonna leave).
  
  A woman in the Ann Arbor area collects Denny's paraphanalia. She has chairs and tables (sold after the remodel), dishes, ashtrays, silverware... but the crowning achievement was the night she walked out with the clock straight off the wall in smoking. Denny's has not yet replaced that clock.
  
  A rather disturbed gentleman sat in the back corner of the restaurant, mumbling and swearing at anyone who came near him. He ordered food, and wrote threatening letters to the waitstaff (while he was waiting for his food). When the bill came, he verbally assaulted his waitron, then grabbed his stuff and walked out of the restaurant (leaving said threatening notes behind on the table). He headed across the street to Big Boy. We did actually call them and let them know who was coming over. The cops couldn't pick him up for anything that would stick, but they did offer to drive him downtown and drop him off in front of the shelter.
  
  Curtis (a few rings short of a sampler) used to come in every day, sit at the counter, play air drums, never order anything, and talk to the waitstaff. Here is his top four list of daily tall tales: He is doing a european tour with VanHalen His rich friend got mugged (every single day, I swear) He is a world famous drummer He owned large, famous buildings (such as the Empire State building, Sears Tower, etc)
  
  The Colonel has always been a bit of a mystery. He was a wonderous assortment of bumper stickers on the back of his station wagon (some decrying injustice, some playboy stickers, some jokes... a good mix). He has written over 400 (typed but horridly misspelled and worded) letters to the goverment about anything from homeless people to traffic lights. The Colonel is usually very cordial and polite - even when he blew his radiator in the parking lot and 2 gallons of coolant ran across the pavement to the door.
  
  No-Pants-Lance
  Lance is best known for his summer attire, high cut mens running shorts, a woman's sheer blouse (long enough to hide the shorts, hence the name), and flip-flops. Include also the crooked makeup, painted nails and gallon of really cheap and hideous women's perfume. Lance claims he has danced at Deja Vu (unrecognized) and been cheered heartily by the audience. He also claims that the dancers are envious of his smoothly shaven legs.
  
  And who could forget Soul Train, the old guy with 3 fingers on each hand (4 if you add the halves) who plays pool (very badly, I beat him) and buys "expensive jewelry" for women who never quite seem to get around to marrying him. He takes long trips to southern states (like Florida) during which time we get a respite from seeing him. He talks incessantly, but is mostly harmless. I even filled out a credit card application for him one day (he can't write). He does, frighteningly enough, have a valid drivers license.
  
  Last but not least, the Lawnmower man - so named for the nature of his haircut. He only came in once or twice... but shall never be forgotten. 1st night - sits at table with 2 clear plastic garbage bags - full of garbage. Sets them in the middle of the floor. Curses and swears at anyone who tries to move them (let alone TRIP over them). Never orders food. Pulls wadded up newspapers out of garbage bags and reads them. Eventually leaves. 2nd night - sits at table in back corner of smoking (no garbage this time). Swears and curses at anyone who talks to him (see later info about problem with women). Lays out the table like this: 2 layers newspaper 2 layers paper towel over newspaper Carefully replaces Denny's stuff (menu, ads, etc) on table top. Orders 1 large root beer, 1 empty coffee mug, 1 large glass of ice. Pulls out jar of Sanka (instant decaf), 1 block cheese, jar of some condiment, butter knife. Pours Sanka over ice. Pours root beer over ice and Sanka. Takes a swig. Cuts cheese. Applies condiment. Threatens and curses female manager (Becky). Eats and drinks horrid concoctions. Removed and handed over to police.
  
  *Side note: at the same time period as his Denny's visits, the lawnmower man paid visits to the gas station I worked at. He would buy 30-40$ of cigarettes (single packs) and candy at a time. The cigarettes were numbered for stock (1-10 to make it easier to count) - he ordered them by number (I'll have a 9... a 4... a 3) and refused to tell you the brands he wanted. Give up if anyone else comes in the store - he won't pay or budge until you ring up every other customer in the store. One day he spent a full 45 minutes reading his money and laughing at it while telling me (on a sunday) that my manager gave him permission to go to lunch. Most of his visits ended with me in a murderous rage and he screaming at me at the top of his lungs because AFTER ringing him up he wanted to separate everything into two piles. When a male cashier waited on him - he was perfectly normal."
  - punk munchkin

• July 31, 2000 - "30 Protesters in front of Denny's
  30 People are standing in front of Denny's on Washtenaw in Ann Arbor, MI, protesting the treatment of a small group of regulars.
  The people in question were thrown out of Denny's after only 45 minutes (decrying the 2 hour limit). They had ordered food and were not even allowed to wait for it.
  On their way out the door, the (temporary) General Manager started throwing insults at the patrons based on their appearance, stating that facial piercings and tattoos were not a way of life.
  As the author was not present, it has not been confirmed whether or not the verbal trade off was started by the patrons or management, but it has been said that the patrons responded in kind, verbally attacking the manager.
  The incident was preceeded (4 days earlier) by a verbal altercation between one of the patrons (who was an employee at the time) and the general manager. The general manager, while the employee was on the clock, made known her personal opinions that tatoos and piercings were not a way of life. The employee was shortly thereafter fired without notice.
  The first incident is most certainly worth litigation.
  There is some question as to whether or not the second will withstand legal action due to the violent reaction of the patrons (which, of course, is on camera - with no sound).
  The fact remains that at this moment, 11pm eastern time, 7-31-00, there are 30 people in front of Denny's #864 with flyers and posterboards, flagging down cars and convincing potential customers to dine elsewhere.
  Down with the man. Up with coffee!"
  - punk munchkin

• August 5, 2000 - "here have been new developments at the Ann Arbor, Michigan Denny's. A new generation of campers have been staging a protest there for the last week.
  Ann Arbor Denny's has a new general manager who has been throwing people out of the restaurant and banning them apparently due to their tattooed and pierced appearances. The case which started the protest involved a younger camper who is also a waitress there, her fiance, and a friend of theirs. While working, the waitress would remove her piercings in order to be in compliance with Denny's appearance policy. On her day off, however, she and her fiance went there for a meal and they had all their piercings in. After forty-five minutes, in contradiction to Denny's corporate policy, and even though the restaurant was not particularly busy, the new general manager asked them to leave the restaurant. They asked for a reason. The manager refused to give them one and called the police. The police arrived and started to escort them out of the restaurant even though the manager had not provided a reason for asking them to leave. During this time, a friend of the waitress and fiance walked into the restaurant to talk to the fiance, and the manager expelled and banned him as well. As the waitress and fiance were being escorted out, the fiance asked for their bill so that they would not be charged with a dine-and-dash. Apparently it took the manager almost ten minutes to produce the bill. After they paid it, the police escorted them out of the building. The following day, when the waitress reported for work, she found the word "terminated" written over her name on the schedule after having received assurances from the new general manager that she would not be fired.
  The protest has been going on since Saturday, July 29, 2000. It has gotten attention from local print and televison media, and there has been an unconfirmed (by me, anyway) report that there was a two-minute editorial about it on "60 Minutes." The protest has remained peaceful, legal, and clean so far...the protesters sweep up the area of the parking lot that they occupy, and have been keeping drunks and people with weapons away from the area. The protesters have also taken up tip collections for the benefit of the waitstaff whose incomes are being affected by the protest, and have gone to great lengths to let people know that they are not protesting Denny's corporation, just the new general manager's behavior in selectively expelling and banning people from the restaurant. They are asking for the bans to be lifted and for the waitress to get her job back. Denny's corporation has sent an investigator out to Ann Arbor to get all sides of the story, and he appears to be very thorough."
  - sticky moose

• April 17, 2001 - "Great news! The manager who sparked last summer's protest (who was alternately referred to as the Shambling Mound, Jabbette the Hutt, and Satan) has left the store. There is a new general manager who has made vast improvements. The bathrooms are clean, the stuff that comes out of the kitchen looks like food, the store doesn't run out of eggs on Tuesday night, et cetera. The new manager is even tolerant of campers, as long as the restuarant isn't crowded and tables aren't needed. Ann Arbor Denny's is dangerously close to resembling a restuarant again. It's really quite amazing."
  - sticky moose

Battle Creek, Michigan

• "My wife and I went to the Denny's near the Battle Creek Mall with some of her old classmates after her 20-year high school reunion (Battle Creek Central). It was about 2 am, and the first thing I noticed was 2 security guards standing with crossed arms in the middle of the restaurant, warily observing the customers. After we finished, we stepped outside and stood in the parking lot for a few minutes to say our goodbyes. Within a minute, the manager came out and told us we would have to disperse or he would notify the police. Very strange! We didn't look very threatening... a bunch of well-dressed 40-year old, mild mannered individuals. They must have had recent problems. At any rate, it was not a very friendly atmosphere, and the food was terrible. In short, nothing to recommend a return visit." - written prior to September, 1999
  - Anonymous

Berkley, Michigan

• "I stumbled across this webpage today and it has made me relive some fond and not so fond memories. I am currently living in the UK, but growing up, I spent many an evening (most of them really) in the Denny's of Berkley, Michigan, aka Punk Rock Denny's. The place was a madhouse. Some of the best moments involved violence on the part of the staff. It seemed, like at many restaurants, there was considerable friction between the cook staff and the floor staff. Never before, have I seen it played out in this fashion. I was sitting with a friend at a table quite near the kitchen. We heard some yelling and saw one of the bus boys storm out of the kitchen. He had to return some more dishes to the kitchen later and when that happened, there was more yelling, followed by a 20 ounce glass flying through the air and smashing in the dining area. The bus boy once again stormed out of the kitchen, but this time, he simply grabbed a very large carving knife and headed straight for the cook, yelling "I'm gonna kill you, you motherfucker!" He did not succeed in him mission. In fact no blood was drawn, but they were both canned on the spot. The next bit of Denny's violence once again involves a bus boy. This time, he was a nice one. Very nice, very quiet, very polite, which was quite unusual. Well, said bus boy was an unusual character. This was proven by the night in which a whole brigade of law enforcement agents, including FBI and everything, showed up questioning the manager about the whereabouts of the bus boy. He wasn't in. Apparently, like all well-behaved bus boys, he was wanted for a gory triple murder in Wisconsin. We never saw him again, but I think he's still at large. I could go on with the stories of the Punk Rock Denny's, but I shan't. It has decayed over the years and is far more mundane these days. A shame, but all good things are transient." - written prior to September, 1999
  - Alex Haynes

• "My name is Jennifer and I've been to the Denny's out in Royal Oak on Woodward. That one is pretty cool cuz it's still got the old design (no baskin robbins). The staff is really nice and if they like you they will hook you up with free food. This is the place where all the unique people like myself go (I'm talking purple hair, body piercings, high vampire arched eyebrows, etc...). I highly recommend this Denny's if you are in the area." - written prior to September, 1999
  - Jennifer

• "I used to frequent the Woodward (Berkley) Denny's when I used to live in Michigan. In July of 1998, I was there as part of a double date (why do people go on these things? It's always disaster). As we walked in, the staff was walking out. We sat down with our dates, got some water from the waitress, and tried to think of another place that would be open at 3am Sunday morning. Everyone else had been kicked out of the restaurant; at that point we were the only ones there save two waitresses and a bus boy. Our dates started chatting up the waitress, and the next thing you know, our new friend grabbed all the food ready to be served and put it on our table gratis. It wasn't what I wanted, but it was free, and I never turn down free food. She got a big tip, and I had newfound respect for my date, even though she was a big-ass lush." - written prior to September, 1999
  - mark

• February 19, 2002 - "Only you will understand. I am hailing from Royal Oak, Mi. My name is Bosco and I am the former and last (partialy self proclaimed) King of Punk Rock Denny's Berkley, Mi. "Club D" as we called it. I would like to inform you that as of mid January 2002 Denny's on 12 mile and Woodward in Berkley, Mi is no more. I was told the night before it closed by the manager. She said "Bosco, umm....can you keep a secret?" and she asked me like 500 times. I was worrying. All she said was "umm....if you want to take a mug home tomorrow.....come in before 3". WHAT??? They didn't even tell the staff! They were worried if the staff knew they were all going to be fired there would be a riot or people just wouldn't show up the last days. Would you blame them? They closed the store at 3pm on a Tuesday for a "staff meeting". Then they laid the news on them. I've been pretty much living at that Denny's since late 1997. Now I am an orphan of a corporation. The bastard son of capitolism. What am I to do now? Dare I go to IHOP?? For all that read and are from the area I speak of heed my words. Get as much Denny's in your system now while you still can. I fear Denny's is pulling out of Michigan. 14 mile and John R Denny's. CLOSED. 12 mile and Stevenson Denny's. CLOSED. My beloved Denny's. C L O S E D. God knows how many others are packing up and shipping out as I write this. 16 mile (Big Beaver) and Crooks Denny's is still open and 24 hour (despite popular belief). It's one of the last 24 hour Denny's in Oakland County. There is also one in Warren that is 24 hours. I pray for those of you that still have a Denny's close to you. That yours do not befall the curse of the other Denny's that surrounded my area. And remember "Because breakfast is the most important meal of the night"."
  - Bosco

Birmingham, Michigan

• "My first memory of Denny's was was when I was about 8 in Michigan and choking on a French Dip sandwich in the Birmingham, MI. My mom had to retrieve the stringy, fatty piece of meat manually... No one seemed to notice, at least that's what I choose to remember." - written prior to September, 1999
  - John Fenton

Detroit, Michigan

• "My name is Dan and I to and am on a mision to eat at all the local Dennys. I have eaten at 15 Dennys, almost the entire Detroit Metro Area. My roommate and I are going to move into northern Ohio next or go west into Michigan. Though I must admit most Dennys that I have eaten at have had poor service. What can I do?" - written prior to September, 1999
  - Lon Calvert

Dundee, Michigan

• "Have you been to Denny's on Tecumseh St. in Dundee, Michigan?? It's right off of exit 17 on U.S. 23. I used to work there before I went to college and plan on retrning there over C-mas break. There used to be a really great crew-all high schoolers basically- who worked afternoons together. If you stop in, the man you want to see is Jay. He is the cook above all cooks." - written prior to September, 1999
  - Sarah Raymond

• "I used to work at the Denny's in Dundee, MI. There's a real cute manager there named Moose. Her brother Jay is hilarious, and a dang good cook. If you travel on M-50 and go through Dundee, stop by and try the Prime Rib, or Grand Slam. They're the best I've had from any Denny's. By the way, there's noone that looks like weird Al there. Sorry." - written prior to September, 1999
  - Greg Archambault

East Lansing, Michigan

• "Dear Mr. P7A77, My name is" Aubz Hughes, and I go to the Dennys on Grand River in East Lansing. You should go there, its where Wally Pleasant is from! (really from)and its where a lot of the teen punks, mods, and other cool peoples who are not really part of anything hang out. You can get free coffee there, and we just realized how cheap the kids meals were, even tho we would never really eat them. I never look at the menu, because I never eat there. And I thought that the cook looked somewhat like Wierd Al..." - written prior to September, 1999
  - Abuz Hughes

• "welp, heres my story about Dennys last night... I went there with my X-beau and his best friend, and we just walked in and saw bunches of people...and we never wait for a seat, they don't care. We got our coffee, sat down, yakked, saw some more people, stole some peoples seat. They made this huge mess. This guy named Jay drank something like 30 creamers, which is amazing! The waitress (who was cool...she offered us free food and coffee, and she hung with us for a bit) said that they forgot to pay...oh well. So then This one girl was burning a hole in her jeans with a lighter, and this other dude was putting his lighter in his mouth...We all think that he was on something. Then all these people came in, and then about half of the restaraunt was filled with teens and 20 year olds. I wanted some more H2o so, I yelled at this retared looking (and walking) waitress who looked at me, then just walked away. My Xbf was trying (unsucessfully)to get chiks, and his best friend and I were just talking about lots of stuff...and making fun of him... Then I had to go potty...They play crappy music in there. As I was coming out, this little girl told me that my hair was really cool (its purple). I said thanks! and left. We got our kids menus and commented on how cheap the stuff on there was, even tho we would never really eat it...Then the cops came in... I had to go potty again, so I went and as I was washing my hands, this Dennys worker (who was a male by the way) came into the potty, obviously looking for someone. The cops were all like, "gee, I wonder where they went". Of course, no one bothered to let US know why the bacon was there. SO, they left and then we look out the window and cops are surrounding the Lovely Dennys in East Lansing...! Then this one girl just kinda came over and started talking to us, and she started this conversation about how when you really gotta go and hold it for a long time, and then go for like 5 min...she was just a little weird. Then all these guys started coming over to our table and yakking to us. This one guy lied to us and told us that he was illiterate...then he started reading the kids menu...and he was like 20 and had no drivers license! his excuse, "I have a skateboard, thats all I need" SUre.... So by then it was about 11:30pm, and I had to be home by 12, so, I finished my conversations, drank my last cup of coffee for the night (for a grand total of 5 cups at Dennys and an espresso at Latte..) and got a ride to my X's house, and was taken home by his best friend, Margie. Yah, it was fun, but I didn't sleep more than 2 hours that night... The moral of the story? Just go tot he Dennys on Grand River in East Lansing Michigan... and they got a lovely view of Grand River..." - written prior to September, 1999
  - Susan Ash

Grand Rapids, Michigan

• "Here in the greater Grand Rapids Area, we have 3 (count 'em) Three beautiful Denny's resaurants. One is actually within city limits, the other two are in Kentwood and Wyoming. The first one that must be reported on is the Denny's on PLAINFEILD. This Denny's has reported coffee-refil problems, and whatever you do, do NOT get seated in the booth in the back corner. The waitress forgets you. Queen of all bitchy waitresses works here. She refuses to refil drinks and has a big butt. And you know the "everyone seated must but something" rule? It is inforced STRONGLY here. But there's a beautiful view of the highway from above in the back parkinglot. The other Denny's on 28TH STREET is the best by far. My only warning to those of you women who hope to visit -- you WILL be hit on by nasty drunk men. My friends and I once tried to guess the name of a waiter here who didn't have a name tag. I think our final guess was Raoul. ( I think his name was Mike). You are also guarenteed to see at least one person you know here ( it is often someone you haven't seen in a year or more). A good place for birthday parties, welcome home parties and late night study sessions. The last Denny's is on 44TH STREET ( just off State Highway 131). This Denny's is not often frequented, but it does exist. On those days you NEED Denny's and all the others are full, I promise you you can get in here. Oh, and EVERYONE who works here is releted to Weird Al. ( Didn't you know?)" - written prior to September, 1999
  - Anonymous

• "Please let everyone know that the Denny's located on 44th street in Grand Rapids, MI is favorite to many, despite the bad review it was given by some obvious moron on your fabulous page. I, along with my friends and band members do not miss a single night there when we are home, and have even been fortunate enough to get a free Denny's menu, a gift from our favorite waitress Celia for our undying devotion to our restaurant. Unfortunately, we don't have a manager that looks like wierd Al, but we do have one who looks like Richard Jewel, and another who has no resemblance to anythin human I've ever seen, but is give the nickname Eujoey. Thank you for letting me set the record straight." - written prior to September, 1999
  - Chris Hornung

• August 28, 2002 - "Where to begin. I am convinced my destiny may lie somewhere in a Denny's. My mom worked at Denny's and her mom and her sister and her sister's daughter and I have worked at the fantastic 28th street Denny's in Grand Rapids MI, count them, 6 times. I met my best friend there her mom works still there after 17 years. I met my last boyfriend at the counter of the Plainfield Denny's. Now he works there with my two best friends, and his new girlfriend. Yesterday I some how ended up at Denny's 5 different times. We, my best friend and I, also visit new Denny's when our road trips lead us to them, they usually do, though that could just be a statement as to how many Denny's they are. I am currently considering moving across the country in a back pack and the biggest thing that makes me feel unprepared relocation is possible is there will always be a job (and strong coffee) at Denny's. One more note about my best friend, she works 30 hours a week at denny's and still manges to spend at least an hour a day louging in the wonderful back corner of the Plainfeild store she works in. Is it normal that my entire circle of friends migrate to Denny's to find each other?"
  - Misti

• April 18, 2003 - "I'm glad my dad took me to this somewhat small-ish Denny's. I was riding in the 18-wheeler with my dad. We had breakfast here before going down US-131 to God knows where (Kalamazoo), and it was great. The taste of the food was slightly altered by all of the people smoking (mostly my dad), but everything else was fine. I can't comment on whether or not there was a Weird Al Yankovic look-alike here, as I have no idea what he looks like. The next time I go here for breakfast, I think I'll have to opt for an omelette, seeing as ever since I went to the Post House Cafeteria in Breezewood, Pennsylvania (the nastiest restaurant I've ever been to) in April 2002, I have been unable to eat any other form of eggs."
  - Cactus Bob

Holland, Michigan

• March 15, 2000 - "I work as a waiter at the Dennys in Holland, MI. I like woking there. Many of the people that come here keep comeing back. Most of the regulars that come in call me Twitch that is my nick name. I have met many people working here and Ii make more everyday. I work 3rd shift which is like the bomb. I work very hard some nights but other nights like sundays can get a little boreing. I will only work 3rd shift because I like the night people hehe. there just like me. My general manager Jermy is the best manager I have had in a while. I would just like to say thank you dennys for inviteing into the family. And to my friends that always go to dennys KEEP COMEING."
  - Justin

Kalamazoo, Michigan

• "It was sometime during the winter of 95' at 3:00am. PJ, Ben, Paul and myself were out for a night on the town. As usual we spent much of it cruising, hanging out at Meijers and visiting other favorite locations including Best Buy and Barnes and Nobles.
  But now it was 3 in the morning and we were all hungry. First we tried Big Boy (it being our favorite hang out). They were (of course) closed. Then we tried McDonalds--same story (a pet peeve of mine is that there is no law requiring all fast food restaraunts to stay open 24/7).
  I suggested Denny's. None of us were big fans of that idea because we all considered Denny's to be too damn hip. Besides the fact that we were nowhere near the only one in town. But we were really hungry, so we made our way across town and up a steep incline into the parking lot.
  After taking seats, we took a look at the menu and our jaws hit the floor when we saw the prices. We were under the impression that Denny's was a feeding ground for unemployed slackers and other hipster types. Aparantly the managers, sensing thier restaraunt's elevation into hipster culture decided to cash in.
  I know I ordered a Coke (no, a REAL Coke...not like you southern people who call everything carbonated "Coke" thereby including Pepsico products which I have determined are unfit for human consumption). I also remember Paul ordering a coffee and Ben ordering an omlette (I only remember because I hate omlettes in general). I don't remember what PJ ordered.
  Anyway, my Coke came and I started pulling on it through the straw. Bored with the decor and waiting for whatever else it was that I ordered I began studying my glass. Suddenly something in the glass caught my eye but was gone before I could catch what it was. I carefully scrutinized my glass, slowly stirring it with the straw. Suddenly I saw it! A...a...FLOATIE! Something was floating in my glass!! AIIIIGH! Another one! MY GLASS HAD FLOATIES IN IT!!
  I tried getting the waitresses attention to no avail. Finally I took the glass up to the front counter and told them the problem. Without even looking at it they took it back, apologized and got me another one. THIS ONE HAD FLOATIES IN IT TOO! I took IT back and this time they looked at it, saw the floaties, sympathized with me heartilly and determined that the problem was pie crust crumbs in the ice.
  The third Coke had floaties too, but I didn't want to hang around all night getting new drinks and returning them. I don't remember if I drank it or not, I probably did since it was so expensive.
  The rest of my group was equally unimpressed with the food, although they didn't have any dramatic complaints like mine. Mainly they felt as though they weren't getting much for the amount of money they were paying. I had to agree.
  When we left somebody's total came to $6.66. We weren't sure wheather to think this was pretty cool or to take it as a warning never to return. We got in the car (Ben's Grandma's car--Ben is the most amazing person anybody could ever hope to meet, trust me he's a whole other story). Ben drove straight down the deep, snowy embankment the parking lot was on ("FUCK the driveway! YEEHAW!") and we tore off into the early morning.
  Prologue
  We never returned to Denny's. We stuck with Big Boy for it's low prices and it's convienent location (we all lived in Paw Paw, a town about 20 minutes away from Kalamazoo).
  Incidentally we had a brush with death on I-94 while we were driving home that night. I was leaning back with my eyes closed when all of a sudden the car slid off the road and well into the median. We were lucky to be able to get it back on the road (Ben has a tendancy to commandeer vehicles at gunpoint when his own die).
  Also incidentally, Weird Al is pretty much all I ever listen to. He's a major diety in my personal religion." - written prior to September, 1999
  - Phorce Phed

• "you see the kalamazoo dennys is were oly works and well he is just the man! but is the usual go at about 3;30 then drink coffee untill sick then by then you can get the grand slam for 1.99 again" - written prior to September, 1999
  - Spoon Phed

Lansing, Michigan

• "I love the page. I too am a big Denny's fan. I hang out at the South Cedar Denny's in Lansing Michigan ONLY. No other Denny's that I have ever been to are nearly as cool as ours. It's dirty as hell, has bad lighting, and stains on every booth. We have the regular counter gang: Rich "The Denny's Cowboy", Dave "The Shoe Salesman", and "Psycho Killer Dude". (Don't look Psycho Killer Dude directly in the eye)." - written prior to September, 1999
  - Christian

• "Hey, just wanted to drop you a note to say that its now safe to eat at the South Cedar Dennys in Lansing, MI. But only when Chris the cook is cooking so WHEN you come, come around 9pm and its all good." - written prior to September, 1999
  - Laura Vox

• November 15, 2000 - "I'm a personal fan of denny's and I've been to quite a few of the in michigan and indiana. But here's what I'm thinking...The denny's in Lansing on South Ceder is the most awful place! The food is absolutely no good. I suggest the denny's in west lansing, or in east lansing. Those are both faboo. Once when we went to east lansing we were there for 3 hours and my friend nate was telling us about all these crazy things that happen to him, let me tell you stuff happens to him that doesn't happen to normal people. And then after a long long time the waitress told us that she thought we were funny. It was really lound in there even though it was like...3 am. It was awesome."
  - Michelle Diehm

Monroe, Michigan

• "Review of Denny's #1635, 1224 N. Dixie Hwy, Monroe, MI 48162 (in case you haven't already)
  Food Ordered: 1 Lrg. OJ, 1 All American Slam - No Cheese in Eggs
  Weird Al Lookalike: No
  Comments: I visited this Denny's on the trip home to Toledo from Waterford, MI (near Pontiac). Basicially, I was tired and hungry and Denny's sounded really good. So once I saw an exit that had one, I was there. Kinda small, but very clean. Even though it was kinda busy, the tables were bussed and the floors swept. Even the bathroom was spotless. I must say I was impressed. My waitress Rachel was very polite, even though I was not very alert, and served me promptly, even though she had like 3 other tables. So, A+ for today.
  Date/Time: 2/22/98, 3:31pm EST" - written prior to September, 1999
  - Brandon

Muskegon, Michigan

• "Very busy place and has very good food. I work there and like it pretty much. A lot of interesting people come & go. Had REO Speedwagon in one night on 3rd shift. Oh yeah, and some boxer-dude that got beat up by Mike Tyson. Had a manager for a while that looked like a tall, skinny Al Yankovic....but he transferred to a different Denny's. Real good manager-dude. Really miss him. We have some regular customers that look like weird Al, though.--If you're ever up this way stop in--we have the best Denny's food around this section of the country. And really have the BEST COFFEE!!! (A lotta strange people people during the graveyard though)...." - written prior to September, 1999
  - Anonymous

Plymouth, Michigan

• "Hey just thought i'd write to tell ya about the cool Denny's here in Plymouth, Michigan. Strangely enough its a bit of a hangout for the teen - 20's aged people like me. It the only place where i can just show up at 2 in the morning and see someone i know every time." - written prior to September, 1999
  - Timmy J.

• "I would like to share with you my dandy experience at Denny's in Plymouth, Michigan. Several years ago, I went to a Stone Temple Pilots concert at which I was accidentally (ok, maybe not accidentally) placed in the first row. After the 1-1/2 hour show, I was deaf as a deaf guy. See, I had planned to be somewhere in the back of the venue, however they changed it to general admission shortly before the show. Basically, I couldn't hear anything.
  Well, after the concert, which took place in downtown Detroit, we left Cobo Arena, and got lost downtown. It was raining, and it was dark, and we were somewhere near Joe Louis Arena, and we had absolutely no idea where we were going.
  After about 45 minutes of wandering downtown at 2:00 AM, we finally found the car. After being wet and tired from walking around all night, we decided to hit Denny's in Plymouth! Where better place to go? We got there around 3:00 AM, and were seated. Apparently, I was not the only one who was deaf, since more than a few groups of people way off across the restaurant were joining in on what I thought were private conversations between my group of friends. Anyway, we yelled our breakfast order at the waiter, who proceeded to take a full 45 minutes to get our food. We got it, and ate most of it; when the manager-who strangely resembled Weird Al Yankovic-told us that we needed to leave because we were being unusually loud and rowdy. We were all tired anyway, so we decided not to resist and followed dutifully what Denny's management had told us to do.
  It was about three-quarters of the way home when we realized that we forgot to pay them. Oops.
  PS. I have yet to see my other half-of-a-brain at Denny's (Timmy J.). I will continue my life-long quest to meet him there and make my mind whole!" - written prior to September, 1999
  - Brian

Riverview, Michigan

• "Hello! My name is Katie Moore! I just love (hack, hack) our Denny's in Riverview, MI on Fort Street, and the other Denny's on Eureka in Southgate, MI we have a Baskin Robbin's in each, and no one who looks like Wierd Al. They're all old fat people, except the really dumb young ones who watch the customers and run into walls. (This DID happen to me! Some guy was watching me, and he ran into a partition with his arms full of dishes!)" - written prior to September, 1999
  - Katie Moore

• "That place used to be cool a few years ago when Barb worked there, then they turned into the Baskin Robbins, it became more bright inside, and they cut down on the seating space. It's mostly full of high school kids and it's not very fun anymore. Also, cops frequently pass through the parking lot so getting high out back is not a good idea." - written prior to September, 1999
  - Jennifer

• "february 16, 1998 - About every three months we stop in on of your restaurants in the Detroit area and find that the service keeps getting worse. Friday evening we stopped in the Riverview, Mich. location and waited 25 minutes for our food. Friday nights are usually very busy at restaurants but this location was only 1/3 full! Apparently this store is losing customers. It is too bad since it has an excellent location and a good menu, too bad it is mismanaged." - written prior to September, 1999
  - Joe Slifka

Southfield, Michigan

• August 16, 2002 - "i have just returned from a meal with my two children..the manager jeff murray..IS IMPERTITENT..CONFRONTATIONAL AND RUDE..HE SHOULD WIN THE AWARD FOR THE WORLDS WORST WORST WORST PR. PERSON...I CANNOT EMPHASIZE ENOUGH HOW DISGUSTING HE WAS... i have NEVER experienced such an abnoxious man in my entire life. I WILL NEVER STEP FOOT IN THEIR AGAIN AND FURTHERMORE WILL INFORM EVERYONE I KNOW TO AVOID YOUR RESTURANT. THE SERVICE WAS DISCUSTING ALSO. GET RID OF HIM FAST IF YOU WANT ANYONE IN THERE. HE IS A DEBIT TO YOUR REPUTATION AND TO ANYIONE WHO COMES IN CONTACT WITH HIM. "
  - Hdrheartland

Taylor, Michigan

• "My name is Isabelle Ringing (J.K. it's Brenda Piwok) and the Denny's on Eueka Rd. in Taylor, MI is too cool! First of all, we have waitress that looks like a guy. She scared us at first, but ended up being cool. They also make the best (and only) root beer floats around. But the best thing about this Denny's is that they play music in tha bathrooms, and it's louder in there than in the resturant. So when ever we want to dance all of us pile in the bathrooms. Boy do we get some wierd looks." - written prior to September, 1999
  - Brenda Piwok

• " I haven't been up there in a looong time. A really cool waitress named Evelyn used to work nights but now she's on days and I miss her. It's ok to go there, but I don't like it as much because I don't see all the familiar faces like I used to." - written prior to September, 1999
  - Jennifer

Warren, Michigan

• "We go to the Denny's at 12 Mile and Mound in Warren, MI. If you make here and if we see Das Bus it is our treat. Our Denny's was remodeled sbout a year ago and now it looks more like a coney island joint than a Denny's. Food is about the same." - written prior to September, 1999
  - Mr. John F. Skosnik

• "we basically live at our denny's... i mean, we live there, but we occasionally go to work, or go to a place with a shower (otherwise known as "home") but really, we're those pathetic people that you see sitting in the deepest darkest corner of the restaurant where there is nobody else becuase the management and waitstaff know us so well that they allow us to grab our own beverages and take over the corner, or else we're the ones sitting in the very front, blocking the bathroom hallway, and occasionally answering the phone or seating people when its busy. yep. thats us. way back when i was one here before (we were still at our OLD denny's) i printed up a story that you had told about the self serve denny's. it is permanently in my backpack and i bring it out every once in a while to read to the newbies. its amazing how much i can relate to. the morning people like us a lot becuase we pour their coffee for them. and theres nothing like rolling some silverware to get a free cup of coffee. and of course theres the inevitable non smoker who sits in the middle of the booth surrounded by smokers and hacks up a lung for the majority of the evening until he finally climbs (literally!) out of the booth for some fresh air. :)" - written prior to September, 1999
  - Lynn Barnhart

Westland, Michigan

• "hmmm where to start... my friends & i often go to the Westland (Wasteland) Denny's on Wayne rd. in Mi late at night & i would have to say that after visiting other Denny's in our area that ours so far that i have seen is the best, my friend Matt even spends $12 on a cab to get there cuz he doesn't have his license yet. im sure that there is a better one out there somewhere though maybe one day i will find it. i usually don't have any money & get an ice water (i am one of the few that can stay without acctually ordering anything hehe na na na na na) but when i have a really nice friend i get a coke -no ice. to eat i would recommend the Canadian skillet its yummy (just watch out for green meat & you'll be fine. another good thing to get is a turkey sandwhich on white not toasted with montery jack cheese mayo on the side. If you happen to be by one really early in the morning after you get up say before 4pm you should get cream of potato soup(tuesday) or chesse soup(thursday) they are both excellent. The best waitress there is Shannon she is deffinatly cool beans & Mike is the bestest waiter ever if you ever stop by & see them tell em i said hi & i love them. if you go & get put in Allison's section *move* at all costs she is the worst waitress ever she will forget you, never refill your drinks, & is VERY rude & will yell at you (known from previous experience) she is never doing anything but always complains about how busy she is we think that she is too busy feeding the polar bears in the back beware they are out there (story told by Big Matt, to keep us from dying of bordom one night.)also if you go in there enough she will tell you her life story even if you tell her you don't care. The cops have been called there a lot becuz there was this guy that would walk around outside & stare at customers through the window & once me & my friend walked out & he said hi & then started masterbating right there it was pretty gross, scary, & funny all at the same time. my friend Matt (not Big Matt) also has an often occurance of drunk old men stopping him to say that he looks like there son one even bought us all dinner cuz of that reason. this is also the place were my boyfriend(Paul, who hates Denny's with a pasion but im still trying to get him to go)'s good friend (Eric) gave my bestfriend (Elissa aka Eli) $500 just cuz. He is soo in love with her it's very sad, cuz she doesn't like him at all. (acctually she is scared of him) oh yeah i also met this one old guy there that says he's in the Mob & all kinds of weird stuff most very unbelevable, he will tell you stuff about your life & about you its very freaky cuz most of what he said about me was true & it was stuff that no one else in the world knows about. another friend from Denny's (Justin) sent me the url to this page with the subject of something along the lines of "to all the denny's fans, employees, & friends that say i spend to much time at Denny's" (you can never spend to much time at Denny's) thanks for making me aware of this page Justin your awsome anyways i think i'll stop now cuz i don't wanna take up to much space & i fear that i already have so later all you denny's fans love, peace, & chicken grease " - written prior to September, 1999
  - Krista

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