Gregory's Server
(Thread 1/3) I have just seen the most polite outright rejection of big business and hustle culture that I've ever encountered at a tiny ma and pa Japanese restaurant in rural Aotearoa #NewZealand and it was so satisfying and heartwarming to see.
The restaurant is based in a town an hour away from where I live. It's run by a Japanese couple in their 50s who make a small number of dishes, exceptionally well. Katsu chicken, karaage, and sushi and the best coffee I've had in this country so far. (And that's saying something.)
The walls are covered in steam punk art and artifacts. There are shelves by the doors full of sprouting avocado seeds in jars for sale to fund raise for a local charity. The customers are mostly local and the owners know almost all and their orders off by heart.
In the four times I've visited, the customers come in a steady stream. The place is incredibly gentle. Many soft spoken women wearing noise cancelling headphones. Rambunctious farming blokes seem to chill out when they drop in for their lunch sushi orders.
When we dropped in this time, the place was obviously busy, only two tables were full but customers were coming in steadily. The owner barely had time to share his usual coffee facts with us. His wife was quietly working in the kitchen at full tilt. (1 of 3)
(Thread, 2/3) Into this came a big business rep for an online delivery app. He strode up to the counter and loudly declared he was from the company and said that he wanted to talk. The owner quietly told him he was busy in that moment. Effectively a very polite "You're in here in rush hour, go away."
The rep didn't seem to get the hint. Instead he just took a step back from the counter while the owner and his wife carried on, making orders, greeting customers and making damn excellent coffee. After about 5 minutes of waiting impatiently the rep stepped forward again.
He said loudly. "Here's my card. I'll be back in a few days to talk." The owner shook his head and said "Please don't bother. I don't want to talk to you about this. I am not interested." The rep looked around at the 2 occupied tables and then at the empty ones.
The rep started to protest but the owner softly talked over him. He explained that he and his wife didn't want any online orders. That wasn't where they felt joy in their lives. He said that he enjoyed meeting his customers every day, knowing their names.
The owner continued saying that he and his wife loved watching people enjoy the food they made and that they were as busy as they cared to be. If they took on online orders from an app that would all be taken away. He then politely bid the rep good day and went back to making coffee. (2/3)
(Thread, 2/3) Into this came a big business rep for an online delivery app. He strode up to the counter and loudly declared he was from the company and said that he wanted to talk. The owner quietly told him he was busy in that moment. Effectively a very polite "You're in here in rush hour, go away."