
Coffee Stop 408 needs your help:
After my iPad Meetup at Starbucks in the Willow Glen Plaza, I rode to The Original Pancake House, locked my bicycle to the metal fence, and walked inside to sit at the counter.
There was no one else at the counter, and only two other tables occupied, with three people at each.
A smiling waitress came right to me to take my order.
I said, “Tuesday’s pancakes, please.”
“How would you like your eggs?”
“Oh, I didn’t know the pancakes came with eggs.”
“No, they don’t. So, you want pancakes?”
She brought me water and I waited while playing on my iPad. I could see the young cook in the kitchen pacing back and forth, glancing out at me now and then. Once, I saw him open the oven and jiggle a pot that was in there. I could not see any sign that he was making my pancakes.
Another waitress came by and pleasantly asked if I wanted more water. My glass was half-empty. I said no and she walked away.
After twenty minutes I wondered if the cook actually had my order. My waitress came by and told me it’s taking longer for my order.
After thirty-five minutes, the cook was no longer in the kitchen. My waitress was at one of the tables talking to the people. I told her, sorry, I had to go. She glanced over her shoulder and said okay.
I went home and made my own pancakes. *
I think it’s interesting to note that during the time I spent there from 9:20 until 9:55 AM, no one left the restaurant and no one else came in.
* Banana-Walnut Pancakes – FROM AMERICA’S TEST KITCHEN (about 12 small cakes)
Safeway Supermarket in the Willow Glen Plaza has left the neighborhood:
To help make up for the loss of convenient grocery shopping, we’ll be planting a larger garden this year. (Did someone mention a chicken coop and fresh eggs?)
Right next to Safeway’s vacated premises is a 24 Hour Fitness that seems to have grown by leaps and bounds. It was crowded this Saturday evening.
We walked in for a tour and ended up trying out several machines, one of which made us (or at least me) want to keep at it. I think they called it an elliptical something or other.
The prices for using the gym were all right; around $30 first and last month in advance and a $30 (probably negotiable) initiation fee. They were unwilling to put this in writing, however. Don’t know why, all the numbers are on their website.
Anyway, we’re not going to pursue it because there is no hot tub, steam room, or swimming pool. Bring your own towels and locker locks.
The big advantage, of course, is that it is within walking distance. But after walking there and back, who needs more exercise?
At the Campbell farmers market, a young boy (9 yrs old?) had taken over the venders booth temporarily for his mother. I asked him about the beets and he said $2 a bunch. I asked if he would take $3 for two bunches and he said no, it’s $3 a bunch. Well, I said, what do you want for two bunches? He said $6!
Marketing, maybe not, but this kid knows his math.
I waited until his mother returned, and then got what I wanted.