A welcoming smile can sure start the day right. I had two special smiles on ‘sunday morning. First I stopped at a local coffeehouse where one of my favorite baristas, Myra, greeted me with her smile. Dang, makes me wish I wasn’t old enough to be her grandpa. 🙂
The next smile you’ll find at Rocky Mountain Bagel Works in Fort Collins. As you come in the door a hallway leads you to Brittany, or one of her co-workers, who greets you with a smile and warm welcome. Once you recover from her smile you must now decide what you want from the menu. An assortment of bagel flavors and cream cheeses, breakfast or lunch bagel sandwiches, coffee, lattes, smoothies. 🙂 It is a great way to start your day and fits the small budget and they’re local!
9 Comments
Steve Skinner
Nothing beats a good bagel!
Monte Stevens
Well, maybe two. 🙂
Tom Dills
Nothing beats a great smile, Monte. Sounds like your day had a lot to smile about!
Monte Stevens
When I showed them yesterday the post everyone was impressed. I heard comments of how the focus was on her while the bagels we out of focus in the background. Smiles are a great way to start the day. Something I do not offer as often as I could.
Paul
Indeed! A smile or two is a great way to start the day! Bagels ain’t half bad, either! 🙂
Monte Stevens
Glad you think that way also!
Cedric Canard
This post encapsulates two things that I found in the States. One was the service industry and how good it is over there. Compared to the States our service industry where I live is abysmal. Perhaps it is the gratuities culture that encourages good service but in our time over there we never found the smiles and the kindness to be anything but genuine. Even in general, we found Americans to be exceptionally friendly (perhaps we didn’t go to the right suburbs 😉 ). I remember Paul Lester writing about Australians not being very forthcoming when approached and I totally get what he was on about now. Australians are friendly enough but Americans take it to another level altogether.
Anyway, the other thing I found in the States which has totally spoiled things for me back home is the good value you guys get where food is concerned. Since I’ve been back I’m like “You want how much?” and “What? That’s it? That’s all I get?”. And don’t get me started about the price of gas over here.
Anyway, that’s a cool portrait Monte. There’s a hint of shyness and self-consciousness there that is absolutely charming.
Paul
Of course, I had the same feeling when I was there, Cedric. You want how much for that??? Terribly pricey. And yes, service with a smile is a big thing here. I’m glad that you got to understand what I was “on about” 🙂
Monte Stevens
It is good to hear of your observations about the customer service here in the states. Since we live within it we take it for granted 9 more than likely would complain about it. While flying for those seven years I noticed the difference in people’s attitudes depending on the part of the states you are in: east coast versus Midwest versus west coast. Each has its own cultural trait6. I was not aware of the price differences over there. I guess I’ll need to pack my own Ramon Noodles if I ever get over there. 🙂