The Karma of the Place
New York restaurants are among the most successful retail operations anywhere on the planet. It is true that, in the past, some had a reputation for rude waiters. Such waiters have been perceived as abrupt, talking down to customers, etc. But the exact opposite has been my own experience; and in fact, the exact opposite is the general rule. Unconsciously, the successful restaurants, cafes and delis in New York instinctively understand and internalize The First Law, People First. If they do not (in fact, if they do not adhere to all the Laws), they fail and go out of business very quickly indeed.
As I am in New York fairly often, there are a couple of places I like to go for breakfast early in the morning. In New York, if you go to a place more than a few times, it’s like you’re part of the family. There is one place I went into, after an absence of several months—a counter-type place right across the street from Carnegie Hall. I liked to order the oatmeal with three toppings: raisins, granola, and fruit. The guy behind the counter didn’t talk much. In fact, I don’t think he talked at all. I didn’t talk much, either. I would say, “Small oatmeal, raisins, granola, and fruit. Thanks.” I paid and went over to the counter to eat and read the paper.
The last time I showed up, I had not been back there for several months. I walked up to the counter and said my usual thing; but the guy was unusually slow putting the toppings on. Then he looked at me (I don’t think we ever even had made eye contact before) and said, “Where you been?”
I explained that I didn’t actually live there and I’d been away.
“Oh,” he said, “everything OK?”
“Yeah,” I said, “fine, why?”
“You’re my customa!”
Damn! Do you see what happened there? For years we hardly even exchanged any speech—only the minimum, for me to order my oatmeal and for him to deliver it to my place at the counter. Nevertheless, there was a very real (though minimal) kind of community and positive karma, even if for only a few moments.
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